Farmers’ associations have praised the federal government for the recent inauguration of 10,000 agro rangers, urging an increase in their numbers to maximize the initiative’s impact.
The commendation came from the Lagos chapters of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Poultry Association of Nigeria in separate interviews on Tuesday in Lagos.
To bolster food security and protect agricultural investments, the federal government has deployed 10,000 agro rangers across 19 states and Abuja. This move aims to provide much-needed security to farmers and their farmlands, which have been under increasing threat from banditry and other forms of violence.
The initiative, led by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader strategy to tackle the ongoing challenges of food production and inflation in the country.
Olusegun Dada, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, announced the deployment, highlighting its goal to safeguard farmlands and ensure the safety of farmers, who have been increasingly targeted by violent attacks.
Mr. Shakin Agbayewa, Deputy Chairman of the Lagos chapter of AFAN, praised the initiative but emphasized the need for more rangers to cover the vast agricultural areas adequately.
“This is a significant step in addressing food security in the country. If our farms are not secured, achieving food security will be a mere lip service,” Agbayewa said. “However, considering the current deployment, the number of rangers is insufficient. The question remains: how much land can they realistically secure? We need a more substantial presence.”
Agbayewa also advocated for collaboration with local security outfits to enhance the protection of farmlands. “Partnering with local security outfits in each community will help the agro rangers cover more areas. Bandits continue to extort farmers, making food cultivation increasingly difficult. Adequate security would motivate farmers and, in the long run, help curb insecurity,” he added.
Similarly, Godwin Egbebe, spokesperson for the Poultry Association of Nigeria, echoed the call for more agro rangers and questioned the sustainability and effectiveness of the initiative as it stands.
“Deploying 10,000 agro rangers across 19 states is commendable, but the real question is whether they are equipped with enough firepower to face the bandits terrorizing our farms,” Egbebe said. “The government needs to ensure these rangers are adequately equipped, possibly with high-tech tools like drones, to gather intelligence and support military interventions when necessary. Otherwise, this initiative may only scratch the surface of the deep-seated insecurity issues.”
Akin Alabi, an agriculture expert and co-founder of Corporate Farmers International, also described the deployment of the agro rangers as a positive step toward reducing insecurity in the agricultural sector.
