The Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Nigeria’s Jigawa State has called on authorities to urgently distribute agricultural machinery and equipment purchased for farmers, warning that delays could undermine efforts to improve food production and modernise farming.
The group said the multi-billion-naira agricultural assets should be deployed immediately to allow farmers to benefit during the current farming season and support the state government’s push for agricultural mechanisation.
In a statement issued in Dutse, OGP Jigawa Non-State Actors representative Isah Mustapha said the timely release of the equipment would improve productivity, reduce reliance on manual labour and strengthen food security.
“We urge the government to act swiftly in the interest of farmers, food security and sustainable agricultural development. The huge investment made with public funds should be translated into direct benefits for the people,” Mustapha said.
The partnership also called for the immediate distribution of motorcycles purchased for agricultural extension workers, warning that keeping the assets in storage for too long could expose them to deterioration and reduce their usefulness.
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The OGP praised Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi for prioritising agriculture through increased funding, institutional reforms and programmes aimed at improving food production and economic growth.
According to the group, government funding for agriculture has increased significantly, rising from below five percent of the annual budget to between 10 and 12 percent.
The partnership described the increase as a sign of the administration’s commitment to agriculture, which remains one of the most important sectors of Jigawa’s economy.
The group also welcomed the creation of additional institutions focused on agriculture and livestock development, saying the move showed recognition of the sector’s role in supporting livelihoods across the state.
Jigawa has invested in modern agricultural machinery and established mechanisation centres across its 30 local constituencies as part of efforts to increase access to farming equipment.
The OGP said the initiative had generated strong expectations among residents because more than 90 percent of Jigawa’s population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture.
However, it expressed concern that the equipment had not yet reached farmers despite the scale of public investment involved.
The group warned that prolonged storage, especially under harsh weather conditions, could damage the machinery and reduce the value of the investment.
While acknowledging that administrative procedures may have contributed to the delay, the OGP said urgent action was needed to ensure farmers benefit from the programme.
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It noted that farmers are currently facing rising production costs and expensive agricultural inputs, adding that access to mechanised equipment would help reduce expenses, improve efficiency and increase output.
The partnership also highlighted the state government’s recruitment of more than 900 agricultural extension workers under the J-AGRO programme, describing it as a major investment in agricultural support services.
Extension officers play an important role in helping farmers adopt improved farming methods, increase yields and access technical advice.
However, the OGP said the effectiveness of the programme had been affected because motorcycles purchased for the extension workers had remained undistributed for almost a year.
The group warned that the delay could lead to unnecessary maintenance costs and wastage of public resources.
It urged the Jigawa government to immediately release both the agricultural machinery and motorcycles to their intended users, saying the move would accelerate agricultural transformation and help strengthen food security in the state.
