The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has handed over 16,169 liters of liquid gel fertilizer to the Benue State Government for further distribution to farmers invaded by herdsmen in 2018.
Director-General Zubaida Umar, who held a ceremony in Makurdi on Thursday, said the fertilizer was under the National Food Security Council Emergency Agricultural Intervention (NFSC-EAL) for conflict-affected states in 2018. said.
Mr. Umar, on behalf of NEMA North-Central Regional Director Bashir Garga, said that the Federal Government would supply liquid gel fertilizer to displaced farmers as a replacement for the remaining amount of NPK fertilizer approved for Benue State under the Agricultural Intervention Programme. He said he had decided to do so.
Umar said that in 2020, NEMA started distributing NPK fertilizer to affected farmers in Benue State, but due to regulatory changes by the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, it could not be concluded and the contract between NEMA and the Nigeria Fertilizer Initiative was terminated. He explained that it was connected to Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
“Following the termination of the NPK fertilizer supply contract and based on a recommendation from the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA), NEMA has initiated the process to seek approval for the replacement of granular powder fertilizer with liquid gel fertilizer. 1 liter We would like to inform you that the liquid gel fertilizer is equivalent to 50Kg of NPK 20-10-10 fertilizer.
Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, Principal Private Secretary to Governor Hyacinth Aria, who received the fertilizer on behalf of the governor, commended President Tinubu and NEMA for their keenness to replace what IDPs were getting in 2020 in 2024. , expressed their continued support to the people of Benue. It cannot be taken for granted, especially when faced with challenges.
