Backs NASENI’s solar irrigation pumps for mass production
For the second time, the National Economic Council (NEC) has sidestepped deliberations on the controversial issue of state police, despite rising insecurity across the country.
At its 152nd meeting yesterday, in Abuja, the Council failed to table the matter, which had earlier been scheduled for discussion at the previous sitting but was stepped down.
However, it endorsed solar-powered irrigation pumps developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for mass production, as part of ongoing efforts to bolster food security and cut farmers’ costs ahead of the 2025 dry season farming.
A source at the meeting disclosed that the issue “was not even contained in the agenda” this time around, dashing expectations that it would feature prominently.
President Bola Tinubu had in recent weeks restated his commitment to the establishment of state police, describing its creation as “inevitable” in the face of mounting insecurity.
Receiving a delegation from Katsina State led by Governor Dikko Radda at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu said the Federal Government was reviewing security operations nationwide and exploring decentralisation to strengthen policing.
“The security challenges we are facing are surmountable. We inherited weaknesses that should have been addressed earlier, but we are confronting them. I have to create the state police. We are looking at it holistically.
“We will defeat insecurity. We must protect our children, our people, our livelihood, our places of worship and our recreational spaces. They can’t intimidate us,” the President had declared.
Tinubu has already ordered daily operational feedback from security agencies in Katsina and announced plans to deploy advanced military hardware, surveillance drones, and additional forest guards in the state.
The clamour for state police has continued to gain momentum. In February 2024, the Federal Government and state governors agreed on a framework for its creation, following which a technical committee was inaugurated.
Last May, the 19 Northern governors under the aegis of the Northern Governors’ Forum endorsed the proposal, urging the National Assembly to expedite the legal framework for its take-off.
As of now, at least 34 governors have declared support for the initiative, which many argue is critical to decentralising security and effectively addressing banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes.
The Council resolved to seek Tinubu’s approval for a nationwide rollout of the pumps, which are designed as cheaper, cleaner alternatives to petrol-powered systems.
NEC also directed the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, to work out funding modalities to enable NASENI to scale up production and ensure timely distribution.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who chaired the meeting, described the innovation as a landmark achievement, saying it proved Nigerian ingenuity could hold its own on the global stage.
“We must embrace innovation in agriculture. NASENI’s solar irrigation pumps will lower farmers’ costs, expand dry-season cultivation, and even serve as backup power for households.
“With features like GPS (Global Positioning System) tracking, mobile dashboards, usage monitoring, and pay-as-you-go integration, these pumps prove that Nigerian technology can compete with the best in the world,” Shettima declared.
The Vice President added that the rollout would not only improve food security but also unlock carbon credit opportunities for farmers.
He highlighted ongoing measures by the Tinubu administration, including the insurance of 250,000 farmers in eight states, activation of a N250 billion Bank of Agriculture (BOA) facility, and the advancement of the 30 per cent Value Addition Bill to strengthen agro-industrial growth.
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) briefed the Council on global risks such as uneven growth, divergent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and climate disruptions.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, presented a proactive flood management framework aimed at reducing humanitarian and economic losses in 13 high-risk states through early warning, cash assistance, evacuation plans, and stronger community-level preparedness.
The Council recommended reducing fertiliser prices, providing smaller implements for smallholder farmers, and implementing Tinubu’s earlier directive for NASENI to produce between 50,000 and 100,000 solar pumps for states on a needs basis.
