The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to agriculture as a major driver of food security and economic growth, describing the sector as a top priority of the administration of Governor Umaru Bago.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Isah Sidi-Rijau, stated this on Tuesday in Minna at a one-day management retreat for senior staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and its agencies, held at Zaima Farms Ltd.
Sidi-Rijau said the retreat was convened to review the ministry’s mandate and activities, as well as to outline strategies for the effective implementation of the 2026 agricultural budget.
He explained that the exercise would help the ministry assess its current performance and define its future direction to improve service delivery to farmers across the state.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Matthew Ahmed, said the administration’s strong focus on agriculture was a deliberate effort to make Niger State self-sufficient in food production.
He noted that the retreat would evaluate the performance of 2025 programmes, identify challenges and develop strategies for implementing the 2026 agricultural plans.
According to Ahmed, management staff would also use the forum to critically review the ministry’s mandate and key performance indicators, with a view to strengthening farmer support and boosting agricultural output in the coming year.
Also speaking, the Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar
Sadiq, described the retreat as timely, noting that it was taking place at the start of the year when ministries are expected to assess their programmes and focus on implementation following the passage of the budget.
Sadiq, represented by Dr James Kolo, Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, assured the ministry of the support of the Office of the Head of Service to ensure the successful execution of its agricultural programmes.
NAN