The Federal Government of Nigeria has deployed over 10,000 Agro Rangers across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of ongoing efforts to address food security challenges, particularly in the northern region. This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The deployment, announced by Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to President Tinubu on New Media, via his official X handle, is designed to protect farmers from escalating violence and to mediate conflicts between farmers and herders. The Agro Rangers will also work to prevent the malicious destruction of farmlands, a critical issue that has contributed to the rising food inflation in the country.
The initiative aligns with earlier plans by the National Economic Council (NEC) to establish Agro Rangers as a short-term solution to the widespread insecurity affecting agricultural productivity, pending the potential establishment of state police forces. The deployment comes at a time when food inflation has surged to 40.87% as of July 2024, exacerbated by ongoing attacks on farming communities, especially in states like Benue, known as the nation’s food basket.
The federal government hopes that this measure will help secure farmlands, restore agricultural productivity, and mitigate the impact of insecurity on the nation’s food supply.
