The Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently roll out emergency support measures to shield Nigerian farmers from the combined effects of plummeting farm-gate prices and soaring production costs.
The resolution was adopted during plenary following a motion sponsored by Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), who drew attention to the mounting pressures confronting local farmers in the wake of recent government policies aimed at reducing food prices across the country.
While commending the Federal Government for granting waivers and special approvals for large-scale food imports—steps he said have helped stabilise food prices and eased the burden on consumers—Senator Goje warned that the policy has had unintended negative consequences for domestic producers.
According to the motion, prices of agricultural produce at the farm gate have dropped sharply, leaving farmers unable to sell their goods at profitable rates. At the same time, the cost of essential inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides has remained persistently high, creating a significant imbalance within the agricultural value chain.
The Senate noted that this situation has distorted market dynamics and led to widespread post-harvest losses, as farmers struggle to find buyers or are forced to sell at prices that do not cover their production costs.
In response, lawmakers urged the Federal Government to design and implement a special emergency intervention package to cushion farmers affected by the collapse in farm-gate prices. The upper chamber also called for broad-based subsidies on fertilisers and other key agricultural inputs to reduce production costs and sustain local farming activities.
In addition, the Senate advised state governors to prioritise agricultural development by increasing investments in the sector and adopting deliberate strategies to address post-harvest losses, including improved storage, processing and transportation infrastructure.
Senate Directs NSA to Probe Rumours on Senate President’s Health
During the same plenary session, the Senate also directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate widespread social media reports alleging the collapse and, in some instances, the death of Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The directive followed a point of order raised by Senator Titus Zam, who expressed concern over the circulation of the reports within the past 48 hours. He described the rumours as disturbing and unacceptable, stressing that the Senate President, as the country’s number three citizen, should not be subjected to such misinformation.
Responding, Senate President Akpabio acknowledged the challenges of regulating social media content, noting that individuals are often free to circulate unverified and misleading information. He, however, sought the opinion of lawmakers on whether the matter should be formally referred to the National Security Adviser for investigation.
The proposal was subsequently put to a voice vote and unanimously adopted, with the Senate resolving that the NSA should investigate the origin, intent and possible security implications of the false reports surrounding the alleged collapse of the Senate President.
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