The Federal Government has taken a major step toward transforming rural livelihoods with the acquisition of land from the Niger State Government for the Sustainable Integrated Productive Communities (SIPC) Programme, an ambitious plan that combines agriculture, housing, renewable energy, and enterprise development.
The Certificate of Occupancy was formally handed over to the Federal Government on Thursday in Abuja, signaling Niger State’s readiness to host the pilot phase of the programme. The initiative is designed to create stable, well-serviced farming communities that will strengthen agricultural value chains, boost food production, and improve security.
Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the SIPC programme responds directly to the challenges facing farming communities, including insecure settlements, poor infrastructure, post-harvest losses, and youth disengagement from agriculture.
By providing farmers with access to housing, energy, roads, water, and modern processing facilities, she explained, the programme aims to increase productivity while discouraging rural–urban migration.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, described the project as a game changer for agriculture and industrialisation, pledging 100,000 hectares for the pilot phase. He also announced plans to deploy tractors and combined harvesters across all local government areas in the state to support local farmers.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Raymond Omenka Omachi, assured stakeholders of strong institutional oversight, transparency, and alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s development agenda.
The SIPC programme will be delivered through a blended financing model that combines public assets with private investment. According to the Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Armstrong Takang, the structure ensures that rural communities benefit directly from Nigeria’s land and asset base.
With Niger State as the pilot location, the programme is expected to attract agribusiness investors, developers, financial institutions, and pension funds, setting the stage for scalable, sustainable rural development nationwide.
FG Secures Niger Land for Integrated Farming Communities Project
