The Federal Government, via the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has announced the deployment of 10,000 agro rangers around the country.
This is an attempt to reduce the level of insecurity that has recently had a detrimental influence on food production nationwide in the nation’s food-producing region.
Olusegun Dada, President Tinubu’s Special Assistant on New Media, revealed this in a post on his official X Twitter.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security are partners in the agro-rangers initiative, according to the statement. It notes that agro rangers will assist in defending farmers against conflicts between farmer herders and intentional destruction of farmlands.
The X (formerly Twitter) post reads: “As part of ongoing efforts to enhance food security in the Northern region and other parts of the country, the FG through the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC) has deployed over 10,000 Agro Rangers across 19 states and the FCT.”
“The Agro Rangers will, among other things; safeguard farmlands and protect farmers from escalating attacks, mediate conflicts between farmers and herders, and prevent malicious destruction of farmlands. While the food inflation crisis in the country is a function of many factors, insecurity has been a long-term challenge and this collaboration between the NSCDC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is expected to solve a major challenge faced by farmers across the country.”
What to note
The use of agro-rangers is a result of previous plans made by the federal government through the National Economic Council (NEC) in February of this year to establish agro-rangers as a temporary fix for the nation’s security issues until state police could be established as a long-term answer.
Food production has significantly decreased as a result of widespread insecurity, especially in the northern region, which has also contributed to rising food costs nationwide. Many farmers have been compelled to abandon their holdings. The nation’s food basket, Benue State, was the target of attacks just last week that tragically claimed the lives of over twenty individuals.
Food inflation has increased to 40.87% as of July 2024. The federal government has proposed creating state police units as a response. Even if the measure creating the state police has already passed its second reading in the legislature, this idea cannot be put into effect by executive orders or by a single act of parliament from the National Assembly.
