The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has faulted the Federal Government’s plan to allocate $30 million to states under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) scale-up initiative.

The group described the initiative as flawed, citing the rampant corruption among state governors as a significant obstacle to the program’s success.

Reacting to the announcement made by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, HURIWA argued that allocating funds directly to state governments would yield minimal results in tackling food insecurity.

The organisation, in a statement, by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, highlighted the persistent failure of past interventions channeled through state administrations, which have often been marred by mismanagement and corruption.

This approach, he said, is not a viable way of resuscitating Nigeria’s dormant agro-allied industry.

“Governors have repeatedly proven to be some of the most corrupt officials in the country. Despite numerous interventions and cash advances provided to states, poverty and food insecurity remain rampant,” HURIWA stated.

The group proposed a radical restructuring of the disbursement process.

Instead of funneling funds through state governments, the group urged the Federal Government to engage directly with credible private sector players and large-scale mechanised farmers.

According to HURIWA, this can be effectively managed through established institutions such as the Bank of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“We advocate for the establishment of a revolving loan scheme managed by the Bank of Agriculture and CBN.

“This scheme should target credible, heavy-mechanized farmers across the federation, ensuring that funds reach genuine agricultural stakeholders who can drive meaningful change,” the statement read.

HURIWA emphasised that revolving loan schemes would promote accountability, as funds would be disbursed with clear terms for repayment and reinvestment. This would ensure the sustainability of agricultural financing and reduce the likelihood of fund diversion.

The organisation also pointed out that food security cannot be achieved without addressing the pervasive insecurity affecting Nigeria’s farmlands.

HURIWA highlighted the growing threat posed by terrorists and bandits who have rendered many agricultural zones unsafe, displacing farmers and discouraging agrarian activities.

“Without securing our farmlands, any investment in agriculture is bound to fail. The government must prioritize the establishment of well-armed, well-trained, and highly motivated forest rangers.

“Additionally, we need state police forces with centralised, independent command structures to prevent abuses by state governors.”

HURIWA argued that a robust security architecture would encourage farmers to return to their farms, reduce food shortages, and stabilise food prices. The group emphasised that ensuring security is a critical component of any strategy aimed at achieving food security and economic stability.

In its comprehensive response, HURIWA outlined key measures that the Federal Government should adopt to revamp the agricultural sector and achieve food security.

These include, engaging directly with credible private sector agricultural firms and mechanised farmers through structured loan schemes, establishing forest rangers and state police forces with independent oversight to secure farmlands and rural communities as well as implementing strict monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the disbursement and utilisation of agricultural funds.

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Others are investing in rural infrastructure, including roads, irrigation systems, and storage facilities, to support efficient agricultural production and marketing and promoting research and development in agriculture to introduce modern farming techniques, improve crop yields, and reduce post-harvest losses.

According to HURIWA, the adoption of these measures would not only restore food security but also drive economic stability in Nigeria. The group expressed confidence that with the right policies, Nigeria could become a net exporter of food and agro-products within a short period.