Korede Abdullah 
Nigeria First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu
NIGER, Nigeria – Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, launches the 2026 farming season in Niger State, urging a shift from subsistence farming to large-scale mechanised agriculture.
Speaking at the event on Saturday, she warns that reliance on traditional tools is no longer sustainable. “Mechanisation is critical if we are to meet rising food demand and ensure national food security,” she says.
The state government rolls out 250 tractors, 50 harvesters and 150,000 bags of fertilizer to support farmers.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago says the initiative will transform the state into a food production hub. “This programme will support 120,000 hectares, create jobs and significantly boost output,” he states.
He adds that structured off-take systems will manage surplus production, while a 10,000-hectare solar-powered irrigation scheme will enable year-round farming.
Officials describe the intervention as a major step towards modernising agriculture and reducing post-harvest losses.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
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