The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has endorsed solar-powered irrigation pumps developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) for a nationwide rollout.
The initiative aims to enhance food security by increasing agricultural productivity and lowering costs for farmers ahead of the 2025 dry season.
During its 152nd meeting at the Presidential Villa, the NEC decided to seek President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the mass production and distribution of the pumps.
READ ALSO: Shettima chairs NEC meeting amid Tinubu’s renewed call for state police
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, was tasked with creating a funding framework to enable NASENI to meet the production demand.
Shettima praised the innovation, stating that the pumps are proof of Nigerian ingenuity.
“These pumps replace expensive petrol-powered systems, lower farmers’ costs, expand dry-season cultivation, and even provide backup power for households,” he said.
The pumps, equipped with advanced features like GPS tracking and mobile app dashboards, are also expected to create opportunities for carbon credits for farmers.
In other developments, the NEC was briefed on ongoing efforts to improve food production, including the repositioning of the Green Imperative Project and the activation of a ₦250 billion Bank of Agriculture facility for small-scale farmers.
The meeting also addressed other critical issues.
The NEC meeting also served as a platform for discussions on economic and security matters, with presentations from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The NESG briefed the council on global economic trends and challenges, including structural bottlenecks in Nigeria’s energy and transport sectors, political economy risks, and global systemic pressures.
The organisation highlighted the need to unlock the potential of subnational markets to drive national economic transformation.
The council committed to actively participate in the forthcoming 31st Nigerian Economic Summit to collaborate on Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Additionally, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, presented an anticipatory action framework to combat riverine flooding.
The proactive strategy aims to mitigate the humanitarian and economic impacts of floods through early warnings, coordinated responses, and cash assistance for vulnerable households in high-risk states.
The plan, which earmarks ₦24 billion for multipurpose cash assistance, was commended by the council, which also directed the ONSA to expand its scope and submit a final document for ratification.
The council resolved to address the high costs of energy and fertilizers.
READ ALSO: INEC decentralises voter registration to wards in FCT
It directed the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, to meet with industry stakeholders to resolve the issues of high gas costs and availability.
The NEC also acknowledged a prior directive from Tinubu for NASENI to produce between 50,000 and 100,000 pumps for distribution to states, and will now seek his approval for funding.
