FG Allocates N180bn to Agricultural Universities, Research Institutes in 2025
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has proposed a budget of N180 billion for federal universities of agriculture and research institutes in the 2025 fiscal year. This allocation forms part of the ministry’s total N636 billion budget as outlined in the 2025 Appropriation Bill, presented by President Bola Tinubu on December 17, 2024.
Of the total amount, N54.38 billion has been allocated to federal universities of agriculture, representing 8.4% of the ministry’s budget. The breakdown includes the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State (N13.77 billion), the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State (N14.17 billion), the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State (N3.98 billion), the Federal University of Agriculture, Bassam-Biri, Bayelsa State (N2.96 billion), and the Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, Adamawa State (N3.58 billion).
In addition, the ministry has allocated N126.03 billion to over 40 research institutes across the country. Some of the notable allocations include the Agricultural Research and Management Institute, Ilorin (N2.17 billion), the National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi (N4.29 billion), the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State (N6.44 billion), and the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike (N6.86 billion). Other institutions such as the National Institute for Oil Palm Research, Benin (N5.08 billion), the National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan (N4.34 billion), and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (N5.47 billion) also received significant allocations.
Reacting to the proposed budget, Dr. Moses Ogah, a lecturer at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, described it as a positive development but emphasized the need for strategic implementation. He highlighted the importance of providing infrastructure like hatcheries, processing plants, and livestock facilities to ensure that universities fulfill their mission of supporting food production and national development.
Similarly, Tobi Awolope, an agricultural economist at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, underscored the need for agricultural universities to prioritize research addressing food security, climate change, and sustainable farming practices. She also emphasized the importance of using part of the funds to improve infrastructure, such as lecture halls, research farms, and demonstration centers that meet global agricultural standards.
President Tinubu’s N49.70 trillion budget, titled “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” aims to tackle key economic challenges. Based on projections of reduced inflation (from 34.6% to 15%) and an adjusted exchange rate (from N1,700 to N1,500 per dollar), the budget underscores the administration’s commitment to security, infrastructure, and economic transformation.
Experts believe these strategic investments in education and research institutes could significantly enhance food security, foster innovation, and promote sustainable growth, positioning the agricultural sector as a cornerstone of national development.
Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari