Abuja, Nigeria - September 18, 2025 The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the national rollout of solar-powered irrigation pumps developed by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) ahead of the 2025 dry season farming. The endorsement was done at NEC's 152nd meeting on Thursday in Abuja. In his remarks, NEC Chairman Vice-President Kashim Shettima stated that the scaled-up solar irrigation pumps demonstrate that Nigerians can compete globally through innovation. CIE IN VIDEO “We must embrace innovation in agriculture. NASENI’s solar irrigation pumps are ready for nationwide deployment ahead of the 2025 dry season. These pumps replace costly petrol-powered systems, lower farmers’ expenses, expand dry-season cultivation, and provide backup power for households. “The pumps come equipped with advanced features such as GPS tracking, mobile app dashboards, usage monitoring, and pay-as-you-go integration, showcasing Nigerian ingenuity on the global stage." CUE OUT VIDEO Shettima added that NASENI’s innovation will not only enhance food security but will also open opportunities for farmers to earn carbon credits. He highlighted initiatives by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security, noting that 250,000 farmers across eight states have recently been insured. Other achievements according to the vice president include progress on the 30 percent Value Addition Bill and activation of the N250 billion Bank of Agriculture fund to support smallholders. He also cited the collaboration with Brazil on the Green Imperative Project being repositioned for financing, and the World Bank-backed AGROW programme, which is mapping priority value chains for rollout. CUE IN VIDEO “The Harvesting Hope Caravan has reached half a million citizens in eight states, fostering trust and grassroots mobilization. These efforts provide lifelines to farmers and show that NEC’s decisions have impact beyond these chamber." By Salisu Sani-Idris CUE OUT VIDEO (NAN)