What specific plans and targets will you set to strengthen agriculture for food security and jobs?
Good evening. Let me tell you plainly how I see agriculture, because it sits at the heart of food security and the livelihoods of so many farming families across this country.
I am making food security a national security priority. A nation that cannot feed itself is a nation at risk, and I intend to elevate food security to the National Security Council agenda, aligning federal, state, and local government strategies under one unified national framework.
For you as a smallholder farmer, I am putting you at the center of agricultural policy. My plan is to help you produce more and earn more, while protecting Nigerian agriculture. We will integrate smallholder farmers more productively into the agricultural system, as outgrowers, rural employers, and producers of specialty and niche products, so that farming at every scale contributes to and benefits from national agricultural growth.
On the cost of farming, I will deploy a direct e-wallet input delivery system to provide subsidized fertilizers, high-yield seeds, and pest protection directly to verified smallholders, bypassing the middlemen who drive up costs. Alongside this, I will expand low-interest agricultural loans through the Bank of Agriculture.
On getting your produce to market without losing it along the way, I will prioritize farm-to-market rural feeder roads under public-private partnerships, establish regional agro-processing zones near farming clusters, and deploy off-grid solar cold-storage facilities to eliminate post-harvest spoilage. I will also invest in aggregation centres, warehouses, and cold chain systems to develop the entire agricultural value chain, enhance productivity, and reduce post-harvest losses.
On increasing what the land can produce, I will expand large-scale irrigation systems, including dams and boreholes, for year-round farming, and put into use the abandoned water dams across federal, state, and local levels so you can farm all year round, not just in the rainy season. This will go alongside encouraging commercial agriculture alongside smallholder development, and increasing Nigeria's agricultural mechanization to significantly improve productivity.
On safety, because insecurity on farms directly drives food shortages and rising prices, I will treat farmer security as a core pillar of food policy. This means securing farming communities and agricultural corridors through targeted security deployments, establishing protected farming zones in high-risk areas to enable safe cultivation and harvest, and supporting early warning and rapid response systems for rural communities facing threats. I will also deploy Agro-Rangers to secure farmland against attacks. The aim is that you can produce, harvest, and transport your goods without disruption, which helps reduce food inflation.
On prices, I will build and maintain a transparent strategic grain reserves release system to stabilize supply and release food into the market during shortages, strengthen market monitoring systems to track food prices in real time, and coordinate with states and private companies to ensure efficient distribution of food during supply shocks. We will also establish and maintain national and regional food reserves, and develop rapid response mechanisms for food shocks and price volatility.
I will also work to unlock climate and green finance, building structured funding pipelines that attract green bonds, carbon market investments, and development partner financing,
Where this comes from
p. 3 Introduction Atiku Abubakar: Answers to questions from the public 2026-10-02 ›
Q6: Farmers produce food, but bad roads, poor market access and post-harvest losses mean produce either spoils or becomes expensive before reaching consumers. How will you solve this? Answer: My administration will prioritize farm-to-market rural feeder roads under public-private partnerships, establish regional agro-processing zones near farming clusters, and deploy off-grid solar cold-storage facilities to eliminate post-harvest spoilage. Q7: Fertilizer and other farming inputs are too expensive. How will you make farming more affordable and profitable for farmers? Answer: My policy deploys a direct e-wallet input delivery system to provide subsidized fertilizers, high-yield seeds, and pest protection directly to verified smallholders, bypassing middlemen while expanding low-interest agricultural loans via the Bank of Agriculture. Q8: Nigeria has large areas of agricultural land but still imports significant amounts of food. What is your plan for increasing domestic food production and food security? Answer: My strategy expands large-scale irrigation systems (dams and boreholes) for year-round farming, encourages commercial agriculture alongside smallholder development, and deploys Agro-Rangers to secure farmland against attacks.
p. 4 Introduction Atiku Abubakar: Answers to questions from the public 2026-10-02 ›
Answer: My strategy is to build master drainage systems in flood-prone areas, modernize municipal solid waste recycling, and channel Ecological Fund resources directly into local erosion control and sanitation programmes.
Q12: Many communities depend on wells that dry up during the dry season. What is your plan for sustainable year-round water supply, particularly in rural areas? Answer: My administration will focus on deep-aquifer drilling, rainwater harvesting infrastructure, and small earth dams to store water for year-round domestic and agricultural use. Q13: We don't have reliable electricity in our community despite having poles and repeated promises. How will you make sure electricity actually reaches underserved communities? Answer: My plan is to move power distribution and generation off the exclusive federal list, empowering states and off-grid developers to directly connect and supply electricity to underserved areas.
p. 4 Introduction Atiku Abubakar: Answers to questions from the public 2026-10-02 ›
Q15: Many rural communities are far from the national grid. What role will solar, mini-grids and other alternative energy sources play in providing them with electricity? Answer: I would make solar mini-grids that will serve as the primary power source for off-grid communities, supported by zero import tariffs on solar components and capital subsidies for renewable energy providers. Q16: Nigeria has invested in many power projects but electricity remains unreliable. What will you do differently, and how will you ensure abandoned or delayed electricity projects are completed? Answer: My administration will audit all stalled power projects, convert viable uncompleted assets into public-private concessions, and enforce strict anti-corruption oversight on all energy contracts. Q17: Bad rural roads prevent people from reaching farms, markets, schools and hospitals, especially during the rainy season. How will you improve rural roads and connectivity? Answer: I plan to expand the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) using matching federal-state funds to pave critical farm-to-market feeder roads.
Thread on X Thread by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1763109780443328986 2024-02-29 ›
To achieve this, we pledged to undertake far-reaching institutional reforms and introduce innovative infrastructure financing models that will be appealing to the private sector to take risks and invest capital.
To this end, we pledged to:
· Facilitate the establishment of a private sector-led Infrastructure Debt Fund (IDF) to mobilize domestic and international private resources for the financing and delivery of large infrastructure projects across all sectors of the economy.
· Establish an “Infrastructure Development Unit” (IDU) in the Presidency, with a coordinating function and a specific mandate of working with the MDAs to fast track and drive the process of infrastructure development in the country.
· Strengthen the capacity of the ICRC to promote Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the construction and management of infrastructure across the country.
· Broaden the scope of InfraCredit to complement the operation of the IDF by de-risking investments in infrastructure to build investor confidence in taking risks and investing capital.
Post on X Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1811432941270057018 2024-07-11 ›
The judgment of the Supreme Court earlier today affirming fiscal autonomy to local government councils in the country is a win for the people of Nigeria.
The court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country.
The decision by the Federal Government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was a decision that was borne out of politics of hasty compromise.
I align with the decision of the Supreme Court that the structure of the Nigerian government is portioned in three layers, and of these, the local governments should be centres of development.
I also share the belief that fiscal autonomy to the local governments should not be limited to revenues from the Federation Accounts, but indeed, should apply to Internally Generated Revenue from the respective local government authorities.
Post on X Post by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1818614831752110249 2024-07-31 ›
I am profoundly disheartened by the escalating hunger crisis engulfing millions of Nigerian children, a number that has now swelled to approximately 4.4 million, as reported by the World Food Programme (WFP).
Madina Maishanu's recent BBC report paints a harrowing picture of the plight faced by families in Katsina state. Her courageous journalism illuminates the harsh realities endured by our most vulnerable communities.
Our national and state governments must act decisively to address the cause of this crisis. Short-term measures, such as grain procurement, are mere band-aids and fall woefully short of the comprehensive action needed.
A more holistic and sustainable approach is crucial, including bolstering security measures to ensure safe access to food. The government must prioritize long-term strategies to curb food inflation, enhance security, and stabilize the forex rate, thereby safeguarding food security for all Nigerians.
Thread on X Thread by @atiku on X · https://x.com/atiku/status/1925268434147057770 2025-05-21 ›
Indeed, if Taraba, aspires to realise its potential and grow its economy sustainably, it must endeavour to leverage private sector resources including finance, skills and technology. No Nigerian State has the necessary fiscal and financial space to independently drive growth and achieve sustainable development. Building strategic partnerships between the State, private investors, local businesses and communities is critical in addressing resources gaps and unlocking the potential of the State to facilitate investments.
As a private businessman, I recognize that investments, foreign and domestic, drive economic growth and development. Here are a few key benefits:
First, private investments will help bridge the resource gaps through additional external resource flows and increased internally generated revenues.
Second, private investments will assist the State in leveraging and maximizing the economic potential of its agricultural, industrial, and solid minerals sectors. This initiative aims to establish a foundation for a diversified economy and ensure inclusive growth.
p. 11 MANIFESTO OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC) Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›
● Build and maintain national strategic oil reserves ● Deploy reserves to cushion the impact of global price shocks ● Reduce extreme fuel price volatility to protect households and businesses
3. Make electricity billing transparent, fair, and fully metered. ● End estimated billing nationwide within a defined transition period ● Implement a mass rollout of prepaid meters, targeting full coverage ● Prioritize metering for high-density and underserved communities ● Separate subsidies from tariffs, so government support goes directly to low-income households without distorting pricing ● Introduce transparent billing systems so consumers clearly understand what they are paying for ● Strengthen regulatory oversight to enforce fairness, accountability, and service quality across the electricity value chain ● Enforce strict penalties for non-compliance by distribution companies
1.5 ENVIRONMENT The ADC will:
p. 12 MANIFESTO OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC) Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›
● Unlock climate and green finance by building structured funding pipelines that attract green bonds, carbon market investments, and development partner financing, while improving Nigeria's capacity to absorb and effectively deploy climate funds. ● Boost agricultural productivity and food supply by scaling climate-smart agriculture.
1.6. AGRICULTURE The ADC will:
1. Make food security a national security priority, recognizing that a nation that cannot feed itself is a nation at risk. ● We will elevate food security to the National Security Council agenda ● We will align federal, state, and local government strategies under a unified national framework ● We will establish strategic reserves and emergency systems by building and maintaining national and regional food reserves, developing rapid response mechanisms for food shocks and price volatility, and coordinating humanitarian and social protection responses ● We will strengthen the linkages between farmers, processors, and markets; improve rural-urban logistics and transport infrastructure; and support agro-processing zones and local value addition ● We will increase Nigeria's agricultural mechanization to significantly improve productivity
p. 12 MANIFESTO OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC) Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›
2. Put Nigeria's smallholder farmers at the center of agricultural policy. We will support farmers to produce more and earn more, while protecting Nigerian agriculture - ● We will ensure that government policies strengthen local production, stabilize food prices, and reduce dependence on imports. ● Integrate smallholder farmers more productively into the agricultural system as outgrowers, rural employers, and producers of specialty and niche products, ensuring that farming at every scale contributes to and benefits from national agricultural growth
34
p. 13 1.7. ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›
● Support farmers through targeted investment in inputs, mechanization, extension services, and market access - matching the right policy tools to the needs of different categories of farmers ● Put into use the abandoned water dams across federal, state, and local levels to enable year-round farming for smallholder farmers ● Develop the entire agricultural value chain to enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and invest in aggregation centres, warehouses, and cold chain systems
3. Stabilize food prices and protect Nigerians from food inflation. We will take targeted and coordinated action to reduce food price volatility, protect households from sudden spikes, and ensure stable and affordable food supply across the country. ● Build and maintain a transparent strategic grain reserves release system to stabilize supply and release food into the market during shortages ● Strengthen market monitoring systems to track food prices in real time and enable early government response ● Coordinate with states and the private sector to ensure efficient distribution of food during supply shocks
p. 29 3.1. POLICE REFORM (UNDER SECURITY) Party Manifesto 2027-2031 2026-10-05 ›
● Reduce the incentives for kidnapping by making the system riskier, less profitable, and easier to dismantle ● Disrupt financial flows that enable kidnapping, including ransom payments, laundering channels, and support networks ● Deploy intelligence and financial tracking systems to identify, monitor, and shut down kidnapping operations ● Introduce strict legal and financial consequences for individuals and entities that facilitate or profit from ransom systems
11.Make farming safe again. Recognizing that insecurity on farms directly drives food shortages and rising prices, we will treat farmer security as a core pillar of food policy Details: ● Secure farming communities and agricultural corridors through targeted security deployments ● Establish protected farming zones in high-risk areas to enable safe cultivation and harvest ● Integrate security planning into agricultural policy, linking farm protection to food supply stability ● Support early warning and rapid response systems for rural communities facing threats ● Reduce food inflation by ensuring farmers can produce, harvest, and transport goods without disruption
p. 1 CANDIDATE-APPROVED ANSWER Candidate-approved answer 2026-10-17 ›
On security, my plan to tackle insecurity covers every part of Nigeria, the North West and the whole of the north included. I am committed to setting up Anti-Banditry and Kidnapping Special Units in every state command, made up of highly trained, mobile personnel, to strengthen the response to banditry and kidnapping. I want to adopt a firehose principle for security coordination, driving continuous, high-volume coordination across jurisdictions so we get faster responses and stronger intelligence sharing. Bordering states will jointly plan operations, share intelligence in real time, and coordinate responses, and I will push for an independent Internal Affairs Agency to investigate misconduct within police and other security services. I also want joint security frameworks with neighbouring states and countries facing the same threats. I believe that with the right political leadership, Nigerian security forces have the capacity to take on the insecurity confronting this country, and this is how we rescue your community from banditry, kidnapping, and cross-border crime. I also recognise that insecurity has pushed crop farmers and pastoralists off their land, including into neighbouring countries, and that this has reduced food production and raised food prices, which is part of why tackling it must be a priority.
p. 1 CANDIDATE-APPROVED ANSWER Candidate-approved answer 2026-10-17 ›
Sources: • Party Manifesto 2027-2031, 2026-10-05, page 16 (1.9. MSME TAX REFORM) "2. Strengthen fiscal federalism and revenue allocation. We will reform the revenue-sharing system to give states a greater share of national resources and st…" • Party Manifesto 2027-2031, 2026-10-05, page 16 (1.9. MSME TAX REFORM) "4. Maintain states as the federating units while enabling regional cooperation. States will be encouraged to collaborate more closely to achieve scale and ef…" • Party Manifesto 2027-2031, 2026-10-05, page 12 (MANIFESTO OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC)) "● Unlock climate and green finance by building structured funding pipelines that attract green bonds, carbon market investments, and development partner fina…" • Party Manifesto 2027-2031, 2026-10-05, page 11 (MANIFESTO OF THE AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC)) "1.
p. 1 CANDIDATE-APPROVED ANSWER Candidate-approved answer 2026-10-17 ›
For agriculture, I will build farm-to-market feeder roads, set up agro-processing zones, deploy solar cold-storage to stop post-harvest losses, deliver subsidized fertilizer and seeds directly to farmers through an e-wallet system, expand low-interest loans through the Bank of Agriculture, and expand irrigation for year-round farming, while treating food security as a national priority with strategic food reserves and greater mechanization. For education, I will expand conditional cash transfers tied to school attendance and child vaccination, alongside a revitalized National Homegrown School Feeding Scheme.