The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku on Thursday said the State Governor Monday Okpebholo has earmarked over N70bn for agriculture in the newly-signed Edo 2025 budget.
In line with his administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and making Edo sufficient in food production, Okpebholo had tagged the 2025 budget “Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo”.
The budget, Okpebholo said, seeks to revive the state’s economy and deliver the dividends of democracy, with a special focus on agricultural revolution, food production, addressing acute food shortage and infrastructural development.
Presenting the approved 2025 Appropriation Bill to the governor for his assent, Agbebaku said the need to adequately combat food insecurity and create food sufficiency in Edo State, necessitated the upward review of the Edo 2025 budget from the initial N605bn to N675bn.
According to him, the country is currently experiencing an acute shortfall in food production, a situation that has seen an astronomical rise in the prices of food production, and increased hardship among Nigerians.
He said, “We looked at the budget carefully, digested the content and decided, going by the current food insecurity in the country, to fund the agricultural sector to create food sufficiency in Edo State.
“So, the House agreed that the fund going to that sector be increased, and it was given a significant increase to ensure we achieve food sufficiency in Edo State.
“We are here to present the final approved budget that will scale you through this new year. The budget that will ensure infrastructure in all the constituencies in Edo State.”
Agbebaku stressed that the Legislative Arm is committed to partnering with the governor in ensuring that Edo takes the lead in the agricultural revolution and solving the current food challenges plaguing the country.
He said, “It is therefore expected that, with this significant amount allocated to the agricultural sector, and the proposed mechanized farming schedule to kick-start in early 2025, Edo State will not only achieve food sufficiency but also begin to export agricultural produce to neighbouring States in Nigeria” the statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor Fred Itua, reads.