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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), Gift Johnbull, has emphasized that the South-South region can play a pivotal role in achieving Nigeria’s food sufficiency.
Reportedly during an interview, Johnbull highlighted the Federal Government’s initiatives aimed at transforming smallholder farmers into key drivers of large-scale food production.
She revealed that over 100,000 farmers are expected to participate in the region’s wet-season farming, with a focus on priority crops such as cassava, rice, cocoa, oil palm, maize, and aquaculture.
Plantain and yam have also been added to the government’s strategic agricultural plan.
“The President is very interested in food security. If we gather 100,000 smallholder farmers and aggregate their produce, it will significantly impact market supply, reduce food prices, and even open doors for export,” she said.
Johnbull also noted the government’s collaboration with farmer cooperatives to collect accurate data on local farmers across the six South-South states—Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers.
She further disclosed that the ₦10 billion “Earn From The Soil” initiative was launched to combat rural poverty and boost agricultural productivity, with a particular focus on supporting women and fisherfolk.
While the fund is yet to be disbursed, she assured that efforts are underway to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure its availability for the upcoming planting season.
Johnbull commended the Tinubu administration for its commitment to agricultural empowerment and infrastructure development in the South-South.
She stressed that the creation of her office was part of efforts to foster inclusivity and strengthen the relationship between the government and the people.
“So the President is not far removed from the people. This office serves as a bridge to facilitate engagement, because nation-building is a collective effort,” she added.
