The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated 22,528 litres of liquid gel fertilisers (LGF) to victims of the 2018 farmers-herders conflict in Taraba.

Zubaida Umar, director-general of NEMA, made the donation on Friday at the handing over of the approved liquid gel fertiliser under the National Food Security Council to farmers affected in the 2018 conflict.

Ms Umar said the 22,528 litres of LGF were the outstanding balance of fertilisers meant for Taraba under the National Food Security Council—Emergency Agricultural Intervention (NFSC—EAI) for states affected by 2018 conflicts.

Represented by Aminu Ringim, director of finance and accounts, NEMA, Ms Umar said the liquid gel fertiliser was supplied as a replacement for the balance of NPK fertiliser approved for Taraba.

She recalled that NEMA had commenced distribution of NPK fertiliser to affected farmers in Taraba in 2020.

Ms Umar said the exercise was inconclusive due to changes in regulations by the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFl), which led to the termination of the contract between NEMA and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

“This, however, stops the supply of NPK fertiliser to beneficiaries’ states,” said the NEMA boss. “Following this termination of the contract, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), NEMA, commenced the process of seeking approval to substitute from granular powder fertiliser to liquid gel fertiliser.”

“Be informed that one (1) litre of liquid gel fertiliser is equivalent to 50 kg of NPK 20-10-10 fertiliser,’’ she added.

Ms Umar said NEMA, therefore, commenced the process of procuring the liquid gel fertiliser from certified and licenced suppliers of the input.

“The process that commenced in 2022 was concluded in February 2024 following approval by President Bola Tinubu as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“It is noteworthy that the approval by the President was on account of the efforts of Vice President Kashim Shettima GCON to ensure that all beneficiary states receive the balance of fertiliser due to them,” she said.

In his remarks, Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba thanked the federal government for the intervention.

Mr Kefas, represented by Saviour Nuku, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties, assured that the inputs would be delivered to the targeted beneficiaries.

(NAN)