Senate Pushes NCDC to Channel ₦140bn Budget Into Agriculture and Security
Nigeria’s Senate has called on the North-Central Development Commission (NCDC) to prioritize funding for agriculture and security in its proposed ₦140 billion 2026 budget, underscoring the region’s economic potential and persistent safety challenges.
During budget discussions, lawmakers stressed that the North-Central zone — often described as Nigeria’s food basket — requires sustained investment to unlock productivity, stabilize rural livelihoods, and strengthen national food security. Senators noted that improved agricultural funding could accelerate mechanization, irrigation projects, storage infrastructure, and farmer support programs.
Security concerns featured prominently in the deliberations, with legislators highlighting the impact of instability on farming communities, local economies, and investor confidence. The Senate urged the commission to dedicate adequate resources to initiatives aimed at safeguarding lives, protecting farmlands, and supporting collaboration with security agencies.
Lawmakers argued that addressing both agriculture and security simultaneously is critical, as insecurity has continued to disrupt cultivation cycles, inflate food prices, and discourage agribusiness activities. Strengthening safety measures, they said, would create an enabling environment for farmers and agrarian enterprises.
The Senate’s position reflects broader policy debates around regional development commissions and the need for targeted spending that delivers visible socio-economic outcomes. Senators emphasized accountability and impact-driven budgeting, urging the NCDC to align its expenditure plans with the most pressing needs of the North-Central region.
The commission’s 2026 budget proposal is expected to undergo further legislative scrutiny, with stakeholders closely watching how allocations translate into development projects and security interventions.
