Author: Adewale Kupoluyi
Few dishes spark as much pride and friendly debate across West Africa as Jollof rice. For Nigerians, it’s not just food – it’s culture, celebration, and identity on a plate. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday party, Sunday lunch, or festive gathering – Jollof rice always takes the centre stage. The smoky aroma, the vibrant red colour, and the unforgettable flavour are what make it the undisputed king of Nigerian party meals. If you’ve ever heard of “Party Jollof” cooked over firewood, you’ll know that Nigerians take their Jollof very seriously. So, grab your cooking pot – it’s time to make the ultimate Nigerian Jollof rice. The story behind Nigerian Jollof rice Jollof rice originated from the Senegambian region, the…
The Federal Government has launched the National Livestock Growth and Advancement Strategy (NL-GAS), a two-phase 10-year plan aimed at doubling the nation’s herd size and sectoral output by 2035 through a strong public-private partnership (PPP) framework. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, unveiled the strategy during an Economic Management Team (EMT) meeting in Abuja, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. The minister explained that the initiative would focus on modernising livestock production, boosting value chains, and ensuring sustainable growth in the sector, which remains critical for food security and rural livelihoods. Edun described NL-GAS…
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has secured a US$1 billion intervention fund aimed at transforming the wealth of smallholder farmers and enhancing the entire agricultural value chain from primary production to market access. The fund was secured through a strategic partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), marking a significant step toward achieving national food security and inclusive economic growth. The initiative follows the approval by President Bola Tinubu for the establishment of the National Food Security Fund, a revolving matching fund designed in collaboration with state governments. The fund, officially named the National Smallholder Farmers Fund, is tailored to address systemic financial…
The Nigeria Director of the Agricultural Development for Economic Growth Initiative (AgDEG), Mr. Joseph Unogwu has cautioned that the Federal Government’s duty-free food imports and resulting price crash could worsen Nigeria’s food insecurity. Unogwu gave the warning during an interview in Makurdi, Benue State. The Federal Government had, in July 2024, opened borders for a 150-day window to allow duty-free imports of rice, maize, and wheat. The measure, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, was meant to curb food inflation and ease the high cost of living. Unogwu cautioned that flooding the market with imports would cripple local food…
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has started moving the 30,000 cattle from Abuja city centre to the Kawu Grazing Reserve in the Bwari Area Council. The reserve covers 9,000 hectares with solar-powered borehole at the pilot site. The minister, Idi Mukhtar, expressed joy at the event, informing herders that the ministry is working with different agencies to provide vital infrastructure, which include a 15-kilometre access road, solar boreholes, a dam, irrigation facilities, schools, healthcare, markets, electricity, and security. According to the minister, the project aims to stop the free movement of cattle in the Abuja city centre, reaffirming the government’s plan…
The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI), has announced enhanced efforts to secure a stable and uninterrupted fertilizer supply for Nigerian farmers, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda vision for food sovereignty. According to a statement by the PFI’s Executive Director, Portfolio, Tajudeen Ahmed, the initiative had launched a new phase, PFI 3.0, aimed at ensuring a steady supply of raw materials to blending plants and ultimately making Nigeria self-sufficient in crop production for both food and industrial purposes. The statement read “As of September 2025, more raw materials have been supplied or ordered than the total supplied in 2024. Additional arrangements with…
The Federal Government has launched an ambitious US$3.14 billion agricultural investment plan in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations Hand-in-Hand Initiative. This initiative aims at transforming five key value chains, such as tomato, cassava, maize, dairy, and fisheries. This was disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during his presentation at the National Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, saying the Hand-in-Hand initiative seeks to eradicate poverty, end hunger, and achieve food sovereignty while aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). Kyari…
The Northern Consumers Protection Association (NCPA) and the Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative have commended moves by the Bola Tinubu administration to bring food prices down in Nigeria. The groups promised to support the government, and that quick action will help Nigerians get affordable food. In a joint statement signed by NCPA leader, Ahmed Abubakar and Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative Coordinator, Samaila Musa, the groups said the move is timely and needed to fight the rising cost of living in Nigeria, lauding President Tinubu’s decision as a sign that the government wants to reduce the hardships Nigerians face. They also appreciated the decision to ensure…
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to deploy solar-powered grids across grazing reserves nationwide, as the agreement was sealed recently in Abuja. The Minister of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar, characterised the partnership as a milestone in government efforts to revitalise the livestock sector under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He said “We are not just signing a document; we are ushering in a new era of sustainable development. For too long, the immense potential of Nigeria’s 417 grazing reserves has been hindered by lack of infrastructure…
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, CGIAR biotechnology programme has launched a new Genome Engineering website, a dynamic platform showcasing cutting-edge science to shape the future of crops in Africa. The website would serve as a knowledge hub on IITA’s pioneering work in genome engineering and precision breeding in bananas, yams, legumes, and other staple crops, highlighting how researchers are rewriting the Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) code to tackle challenges such as pests, diseases, drought, and low yields, in order to ensure food security and improve livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers. The launch took place…
