First Lady Oluremi Tinubu flags off 2026 Niger’s planting season

. Presents tools and implements to farmers

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu has flagged off the 2026 farming season in Niger State.

The First Lady, who also distributed farming tools and implements to farmers, said it was a visible testament to the nation’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food security, and rural prosperity.

“Today’s event is not just the commencement of another farming season; it is a bold statement that Nigeria is ready to feed herself. It signals a deliberate transition from subsistence practices to modern, mechanised, and commercially viable agriculture.

“This gesture will no doubt empower our farmers with the tools needed to increase productivity, enhance livelihoods, and strengthen our GDP,” she said.

According to her, “In declaring a State of Emergency on Food Security on July 13th, 2023, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, made it clear that food availability and affordability must be treated as national priorities.

“With the direct support to farmers through the release of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs, this initiative by the Niger State Government  aligns with the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President on boosting agriculture for food self-sufficiency”.

The First Lady paid glowing tribute to the nation’s farmers who she described as the backbone of Nigeria.

“I want to especially commend our farmers,  the men, women, and youth who rise before dawn and labour tirelessly on the land, so that millions of families can have food on their tables. You are the backbone of our nation’s survival, and the reason for today’s support is to ensure that your efforts do not go unrecognized,” she said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, emphasized that agriculture remains a priority of his administration noting that with the sector being one of the pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the sector will continue to get adequate support and attention.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his boldness in removing fuel subsidy which, he said, necessitated the nation to look more towards agriculture.

“The removal of fuel subsidy has made more money available to the sub-nationals which has made us, as a state to achieve more in the area of agriculture,” she said.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Abdullahi Sabi in his remarks commended the Niger State Government, saying with the provision of modern tools and implements, there would be enhanced productivity from farmers.

The APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, explained that with the flag-off of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway which will have over 300 dams, agricultural production and improved transportation of farming season produce is assured.

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu then handed over a total of 250 tractors with 75horse power capacity, 50 Combined tractors, 150,000 bags of fertilizers and others to be distributed in the 25 Local Government Areas of the State.

SIGNED

Busola Kukoyi

SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Saturday 2nd May, 2026

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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