Our reporter
In a bold move to combat food insecurity and achieve food sufficiency, Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has allocated over N70 billion to agriculture in the 2025 budget.
The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement released to Uptown Press by Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in Benin City.
The 2025 budget, titled: “Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo”, aims to revitalise Edo’s economy by prioritising agriculture, infrastructure, and development. The unprecedented investment in agriculture underscores the State government’s commitment to addressing the acute food shortages impacting Nigeria and its citizens.
While signing the budget into law, Governor Okpebholo highlighted the critical role agriculture plays in his administration’s agenda. “This budget demonstrates our resolve to address food insecurity and establish Edo as a leading state in food production,” he stated.
“We are a people-focused administration determined to ensure food sufficiency for our citizens while also contributing to Nigeria’s overall food supply.”
The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, shared similar sentiments during the presentation of the approved budget. According to Hon. Agbebaku, the Legislative Arm raised the initial budget from N605 billion to N675 billion to accommodate a larger allocation for agriculture.
“We analysed the budget thoroughly and recognised the pressing need to fund agriculture as a strategic response to the food shortages and rising food prices across the country,” Hon. Agbebaku said. “This significant increase ensures Edo can lead an agricultural revolution, achieving food sufficiency while easing the hardship experienced by our people.”
Governor Okpebholo’s administration has laid out plans for large-scale mechanised farming across Edo’s three senatorial districts, scheduled to commence in early 2025. This initiative is expected to boost agricultural output, creating job opportunities and enabling Edo State to become a major exporter of food to neighbouring states.
The 2025 budget also addresses infrastructure development across all constituencies, ensuring holistic progress for the State. By combining food security with infrastructure improvements, the administration hopes to deliver tangible dividends of democracy to its citizens.
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