Abuja, September 18, 2025 – In a significant move to reinforce Nigeria’s food security, the National Economic Council (NEC) has officially endorsed the mass production and rollout of solar-powered irrigation pumps manufactured by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). The decision was reached during the Council’s 152nd meeting held at the Presidential Villa on Thursday.
The initiative aims to replace costly petrol-powered pumps with locally developed solar alternatives, reducing operational expenses for farmers and expanding dry-season cultivation capabilities. The Council resolved to seek President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the large-scale production and distribution of the pumps ahead of the 2025 dry season farming period.
Chairman of the Council, Vice President Kashim Shettima, hailed the innovation as proof of Nigerian ingenuity on the global stage. “We must also face the challenge of innovation in agriculture. NASENI’s scaled-up solar irrigation pumps are ready for national rollout ahead of the 2025 dry season. These pumps replace expensive petrol-powered systems, lower farmers’ costs, expand dry-season cultivation, and even provide backup power for households,” he stated.
Shettima further emphasized the advanced technological features integrated into the pumps, noting, “Their advanced features, including GPS tracking, mobile app dashboards, usage monitoring, and pay-as-you-go integration, prove that Nigerian ingenuity can compete with the world.” He also highlighted the environmental benefits, stating that the innovation “will not only boost food security but also unlock carbon credit opportunities for farmers across the country.”
To ensure timely implementation, the Council mandated the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, to work out funding modalities for NASENI. This step is critical to enabling the mass production of the pumps and their subsequent distribution to farmers.
The endorsement aligns with broader efforts by the Tinubu administration to address food insecurity. The Vice President shared updates on other interventions, revealing that “250,000 farmers have been insured across eight states, the 30 percent Value Addition Bill is advancing, and the ₦250 billion Bank of Agriculture facility is being activated to reach smallholders.”
Additional measures include repositioning the Green Imperative Project with Brazil for financing and mapping priority value chains through the World Bank-backed AGROW programme. The Harvesting Hope Caravan has also reached half a million citizens in eight states, fostering grassroots mobilization and trust.
The Council’s meeting also featured updates on the nation’s accounts. As of September 17, 2025, the Excess Crude Account stands at $535,823.39, the Stabilization Account at N83,495,784,133.24, and the Natural Resources Account at N125,818,396,257.41.
In other deliberations, the NEC received a presentation on the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit, themed “The Reform Imperative: Building a Prosperous and Inclusive Nigeria by 2030,” from the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). The Council committed to active participation in the upcoming summit to synergize ideas and mobilize support for President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Furthermore, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, briefed the Council on the Anticipatory Action Framework for Riverine Flooding, designed to mitigate humanitarian and economic impacts through early warning systems and coordinated responses. The Council commended the framework and directed its expansion to include more states.
With these multi-faceted approaches, the NEC aims to not only enhance agricultural productivity but also build a resilient and sustainable economy for all Nigerians.
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