EDITION 3
In Editions 1 and 2, we examined some of the policies and initiatives of the General Sani Abacha era relating to the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), roads, education, healthcare, water supply, the creation of new states, Vision 2010, the economy, foreign reserves, the Family Support Programme and FEAP.
In this Edition 3, we turn our attention to agriculture, food production and efforts to support smallholder farmers.
1. AGRICULTURE AS A MAJOR ECONOMIC PRIORITY
During the Abacha era, agriculture remained an important part of Nigeria’s economy.
Government policies during the period included efforts to increase domestic food production, strengthen the supply of agricultural raw materials required by industries and reduce dependence on imported products.
Agriculture was therefore viewed not only as a source of food, but also as an important component of economic activity, employment and industrial production.
2. INCREASE IN AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT IN 1997
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s 1997 Annual Report recorded further growth in Nigeria’s domestic output.
According to the CBN, Nigeria’s GDP increased by 3.8 percent in 1997, compared with an average growth rate of 2.3 percent during the preceding three years.
The CBN specifically stated that the increase in domestic output was driven by higher agricultural output and increased crude petroleum production.
This does not mean that all of the agricultural growth was caused by one policy of the Abacha administration. However, the official CBN record confirms that agricultural output increased in 1997, during the period under review.
3. EFFORTS TO MAKE SMALLHOLDER FARMERS MAJOR BENEFICIARIES
In his Independence Day address of 1 October 1997, General Sani Abacha said his administration was seeking to make millions of Nigeria’s small-scale farmers the primary beneficiaries of funds invested in agriculture.
He also addressed the problem of fertiliser diversion and stated that fertiliser subsidies intended for farmers had been diverted, smuggled or otherwise misused.
Abacha further stated that, in 1997 alone, his administration had prevented more than ₦19 billion from going to people involved in such activities, and that a broader package of relief measures for farmers was being prepared. These figures and claims are presented as statements made by Abacha in his 1997 address.
The issue is important because it shows that the administration publicly recognised the importance of smallholder farmers to Nigeria’s agricultural production.
4. FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMME AND AGRICULTURE
The Family Support Programme (FSP), launched in 1994, also included agricultural and income-generating activities.
Historical research on the programme shows that women and families were encouraged to engage in activities including farming, fishing, palm-oil processing and livestock rearing.
The programme also included agricultural, health and vocational activities.
This means that FSP was not limited to direct family welfare; it also sought to create opportunities for families to generate income.
5. NALDA: AGRICULTURAL LAND DEVELOPMENT
The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) was not established by the Abacha administration. It was created by Decree 92 of 1992.
However, NALDA operated during the Abacha period before it was eventually scrapped in 1998.
FAO records that NALDA’s mandate included land development, agricultural production, environmental protection, land-use planning, extension and agro-services. One of its major activities was clearing and preparing large areas of land for agricultural production, with some contiguous areas covering at least 1,000 hectares.
Therefore, in this report, we associate NALDA with the agricultural activities carried out during the period, not with its original establishment.
6. AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE AND PROTECTION AGAINST FARMING RISKS
The Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation was established under the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation Act, 1993, No. 37.
Its legal mandate included providing insurance for agricultural and agro-allied projects against selected natural hazards and other covered risks.
The framework provided a mechanism for reducing some of the financial risks faced by farmers.
For farmers, a major agricultural loss can wipe out an entire season’s investment. Agricultural insurance therefore represented an important mechanism for protecting agricultural investments against covered risks.
7. AGRICULTURE AS A SOURCE OF FOOD AND INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS
Agriculture during this period was not viewed solely as a means of producing food.
There was also an emphasis on agricultural production as a source of raw materials for industries and as part of a broader economic development chain:
FARMER → AGRICULTURAL RAW MATERIALS → INDUSTRY → PRODUCTS → JOBS
The objective was to strengthen the connection between agricultural production and industrial activity.
The CBN’s 1997 Annual Report provides evidence of increased agricultural output during the year, alongside increased crude petroleum production.
WHAT SHOULD WE REMEMBER?
When the Abacha era is examined from the perspective of agriculture, several areas deserve renewed attention.
There were efforts to make smallholder farmers major beneficiaries of agricultural investment, programmes that encouraged families to engage in farming and other income-generating activities, continued agricultural land-development activities through NALDA, and an agricultural insurance framework designed to protect farmers against selected risks.
The CBN’s 1997 Annual Report also confirmed that agricultural output increased during that year, alongside overall growth in domestic output.
At the same time, the agricultural sector faced challenges, including fertiliser distribution, access to inputs and the ability of smallholder farmers to benefit fully from government support.
Therefore, the purpose of this investigation is to examine what was planned, what was implemented and what the historical records confirm.
KOWA YA TUNA BARA!
By Alfijir Labarai
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