FG secures 100,000 hectares in Niger State for integrated farming, housing initiative

The Niger State Government has presented a Certificate of Occupancy covering 100,000 hectares of land to the Federal Government for the Sustainable Integrated Productive Communities (SIPC) programme being driven by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI).

The initiative, which will be piloted in Niger State, is designed to support agriculture, mass housing development, renewable energy and enterprise growth, with the aim of promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Speaking during the presentation in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the SIPC programme is a structured settlement initiative targeted at farmers to strengthen agricultural value chains and improve livelihoods.

She said the project would provide farmers with stable communities equipped with basic infrastructure, noting that this would enhance productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, improve security and encourage youth participation in agriculture.

According to the minister, challenges such as insecure settlements, rural-urban migration and poor infrastructure have continued to limit the growth of farming communities, adding that the SIPC programme was designed to directly address these issues.

Uzoka-Anite explained that the initiative extends beyond agriculture, incorporating renewable energy solutions such as solar-powered homes and community facilities to support agro-processing and storage. She added that the programme would also provide access roads, water supply and environmentally responsible construction within the communities.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, expressed excitement over the partnership and pledged the state’s full commitment to the programme, citing Niger State’s vast land resources and strong focus on agricultural development.

He described the project as transformative, saying it would drive industrialisation, agriculture, livestock development and security. The governor confirmed that 100,000 hectares had been offered for the pilot phase and announced plans to provide each local government area in the state with 10 tractors and two combined harvesters to boost agricultural production.

Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Raymond Omachi, assured stakeholders of the ministry’s commitment to transparency, accountability and effective policy implementation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for sustainable development.

The SIPC programme adopts an innovative financing model that blends public assets with private investment to promote sustainability and shared risk.

Managing Director of MOFI, Armstrong Takang, said the initiative is focused on ensuring that rural communities benefit directly from Nigeria’s land and asset base, noting that it is positioned to attract developers, financial institutions, pension funds and agribusiness investors.