Category: Agriculture

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of the ban on the export of raw shea nuts, effective from February 26, 2026, to February 25, 2027. The move is aimed at strengthening domestic value addition, advancing industrial development, and supporting the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda. According to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the extension is intended to deepen Nigeria’s processing capacity, enhance livelihoods in shea-producing communities, and encourage the growth of exports based on value-added products…

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has convened a major Stakeholders’ Validation Session on the raw shea nut export ban, bringing together representatives from across Nigeria’s shea value chain. The session, held on 19th February 2026 and chaired by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive consultation, transparency, and evidence-based policymaking. Minister Oduwole thanked participants, including processors, exporters, aggregators, and rural women, for their detailed contributions, noting that prior submissions were carefully reviewed to ensure shared understanding.…

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Economic and Environmental Resource Centre (EERC) aimed at enhancing research policy alignment, knowledge management, and evidence-based policymaking in Nigeria. The agreement, announced in a press statement issued on February 18, 2026, is designed to promote knowledge engagement, research priority alignment, and collaborative information sharing between both institutions, while also creating opportunities for participation in fellowship programmes. Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, expressed satisfaction with…

The Academic Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) has pledged full support for the upcoming Plant Breeders Association of Nigeria (PBAN) Conference, an initiative aimed at advancing the nation’s food sustainability agenda under President Bola Ahmad Tinubu. The commitment was made by the Executive Secretary of ARCN during a meeting with a delegation from PBAN at the council’s headquarters on Monday. He emphasized the crucial role of plant breeding in agricultural research and called for its integration into the curricula of agricultural colleges, polytechnics, and institutes nationwide. “Teaching plant breeding at…

The Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, on Monday formally opened the Nigerian edition of the 2026 Training of West African Youth in Aquaculture, a regional capacity-building programme aimed at boosting youth employment, food security and sustainable fish production. Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the ARCN Auditorium in Abuja, Dr. Dabban said the training, organised in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), aligned with regional priorities on youth empowerment, environmental sustainability and the development of a…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute a man identified as Maazi Kanayo over an alleged audio message inciting violence against Igbo Muslims in South Eastern Nigeria. In a press statement issued on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, the faith-based human rights organisation said it was in possession of a viral audio recording in which the individual allegedly urged members of the public to target Igbo Muslims in parts of the South East. The statement, signed by MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor…

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) have pledged to deepen collaboration in promoting sustainable agricultural development through biotechnology. The commitment was reinforced during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, to the NBRDA, aimed at strengthening joint research and innovation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.   Dr. Dabban emphasized the crucial role of biotechnology in tackling agricultural challenges such as climate change, pests, diseases, and low productivity. He praised…

Alhaji Ahmadu E. Abdullahi, a former Deputy Clerk of the Senate at the National Assembly, has emerged as Chairman of the Kogi State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).   Abdullahi was inaugurated alongside other members of the state executive council on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, in Lokoja. The ceremony was conducted by the National President of AFAN, Dr. Faruk Rabiu Mudi, who was represented by the Deputy National President.   The 25-member executive council was elected through affirmation, as all the positions were unopposed.   Addressing…