… Unveils six mechanised farming centres, pledges increased agricultural investment, defends subsidy removal, vows to sustain student loans
By Abu Adamu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday took his re-election campaign to Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, with a pledge to tackle food insecurity, bring down food prices and intensify efforts to defeat terrorism and other security threats across Nigeria. For more updates, Kthdaily covers all these developments.
Addressing a large gathering of supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally, Tinubu expressed confidence that Nigeria possessed the land, manpower and resources required to achieve food self-sufficiency, declaring that his administration would make agriculture a major instrument for improving living standards and reducing the cost of living, as reported by Kthdaily.
The President said his government would expand investment in mechanised agriculture, irrigation infrastructure and agricultural research to increase food production, strengthen domestic supply and make essential commodities more affordable.
“We have the arable land. We have the commitment. We have the people. We can feed ourselves, and we will bring the food prices down to the minimum,” Tinubu declared.
He announced plans to establish six mechanised farming service centres, one in each of the country’s six geopolitical zones, as part of efforts to modernise agricultural production and improve farmers’ access to equipment and technology.
The proposed centres are expected to support the transition from traditional farming methods to more productive, mechanised operations, particularly in agricultural communities where limited access to modern equipment has constrained output.
Tinubu also promised to strengthen the involvement of Nigerian universities in agricultural research and development, saying academic institutions would play a greater role in finding practical solutions to the country’s food production challenges.
“Our universities will be involved in research and development, more in agriculture than ever before,” he said. According to Kthdaily, these initiatives are at the forefront of government policy discussions.
The President’s agricultural commitments formed a major part of his campaign message in Jigawa, one of Nigeria’s important agricultural states, where farming, irrigation, and agro-allied activities provide livelihoods for a substantial proportion of the population.
Turning to the controversial removal of petrol subsidy, Tinubu dismissed calls for its restoration, accusing proponents of misleading Nigerians about the financial implications of reversing the policy.
He argued that reinstating the subsidy would divert public resources from critical infrastructure and other government obligations, including road construction, maintenance, and payments to contractors and workers.
“How will you pay for those commitments, repair the roads, and maintain them? How will you function? The labourers, the granite suppliers, and the rock suppliers; they are eating and surviving,” he said.
The President maintained that government resources must be deployed towards productive investments and public services rather than restoring a subsidy regime his administration abolished in 2023.
His remarks came amid continuing political debate over the economic consequences of subsidy removal, with opposition figures advocating alternative approaches to reducing transportation and energy costs.
Tinubu also defended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the student loan initiative as a critical instrument for expanding access to tertiary education and breaking the cycle of poverty.
He pledged to sustain the programme, which provides financial assistance to eligible students in tertiary institutions, as part of his administration’s broader commitment to educational opportunities.
“NELFUND is our weapon against poverty, and we will continue in that direction,” the President declared.
On national security, Tinubu assured Nigerians that his government would overcome the country’s security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, and other forms of violent criminality. As Kthdaily highlighted, security remains a top concern for citizens nationwide.
He said the administration would continue providing support to security personnel while strengthening efforts to protect lives and property across the federation.
“We will conquer insecurity. Nigeria has gone through many wars, but we will defeat our enemies,” Tinubu said.
The President, however, stressed that defeating insecurity required cooperation between citizens and security agencies.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, share intelligence about suspicious activities, and promptly report potential threats to the appropriate authorities.
Tinubu expressed confidence that sustained security operations, improved intelligence gathering, and public cooperation would help restore peace to affected communities.
The Jigawa campaign rally provided another platform for the President to defend his administration’s economic reforms while presenting agricultural expansion, educational financing, infrastructure development, and improved security as priorities of his re-election agenda.
KTH Daily reports that his message centred on the argument that Nigeria could achieve greater economic stability and food security through sustained investment in domestic production, rather than reversing reforms already undertaken by his government. Furthermore, Kthdaily will continue to bring readers the latest updates on these national issues.
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