NGO, others urge FG, states to commit 10% of yearly budgets to agric

An international non-governmental organisation, Actionaid, has urged the federal and state governments to adhere to the Maputo Declaration by allocating 10 per cent of their budgets to agriculture to ensure food security in the country.

Actionaid gave the advice at the end of a three-day conference, titled “National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on 2025 Agricultural Budget,” held in Ikeja, Lagos.

Country Director of Actionaid, Andrew Mamedu, who spoke at the end of the conference, said that the reason for the three-day event was to ensure food security that has precipitated the nationwide protest.

“However, we have gathered here with key stakeholders, including Oxfam, GIZ, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, ECOWAS Commission, among others, to ensure that government at all levels commit 10 per cent of their budget to agriculture, release fertilisers on time, involve more women in farming and ensure farmers’ security.”

“We are sure that if all we have agreed on are implemented, there would be no protest next year, but if not, there is bound to be more protests” he said.