Farming Under Siege! Chief Ogbe Decries Crisis In Nigeria’s Agricultural Sector

Former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, has expressed concern that agriculture has become increasingly challenging for many Nigerians—particularly the youth—due to the high cost of farming inputs, insecurity, and poor road infrastructure.

Ogbe made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at a colloquium on agriculture, which also featured the launch of the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Endowment Fund. The event marked the 21st anniversary of the Etsu Nupe’s reign and his 72nd birthday in Abuja.

He warned that the worsening food crisis could escalate into serious social problems if not urgently tackled, stressing that these barriers must be addressed by the government to make farming more appealing, especially to younger generations.

Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, praised the Etsu Nupe for maintaining a strong partnership with his government and for rallying traditional leaders across the state in support of agricultural policies. The governor also donated ₦100 million to the Etsu Yahaya Abubakar Foundation, highlighting the economic potential of agriculture and reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to achieving food security.

In his remarks, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, said the event was organized to spotlight agriculture as a key driver of sustainable socio-economic growth. He explained that his foundation aims to uplift the less privileged and improve grassroots welfare.

The chairman of the occasion, Col. Sani Bello (retd), represented by Brig. Gen. Tunde Ogbeha (retd), lauded the Etsu Nupe’s efforts toward community development, stating that the foundation would empower youth and the colloquium would help address Nigeria’s agricultural challenges.