The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the National Farm Cities Project for Persons with Disabilities, a flagship initiative of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in partnership with the Peace for Humanity Foundation.
The assurance was given by the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, who led the Commission’s management team alongside representatives of the Peace for Humanity Foundation to the Ministry.
Describing the initiative as timely and transformative, Dr. Doro said the Farm Cities Project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Ministry’s mandate of reducing poverty while promoting social inclusion.
He commended the project as a significant step toward empowering persons with disabilities through sustainable livelihoods, stressing that it deserves the support of all stakeholders committed to advancing disability inclusion and economic independence.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry would review the project’s progress report and supporting documents to identify areas where it could intervene to accelerate implementation. He added that further engagements with the NCPWD and the Peace for Humanity Foundation would help address outstanding issues and strengthen the Ministry’s role as a strategic partner in the initiative.
Dr. Doro also revealed plans to prepare a policy document for submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) within the next month to facilitate government approval and funding for the project.
“I will not let this project die under my watch. All identified gaps will be addressed, especially as the project is still in its early stages,” the Minister assured.
He further noted that the project’s earlier adoption by the Council on Humanitarian Affairs during its meeting in Calabar in January 2026 demonstrates growing national support for its implementation.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, said the visit was aimed at updating the Minister on the progress of the initiative while seeking the Ministry’s support for establishing Farm Cities across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Gufwan, the Farm Cities Project is envisioned as a disability-inclusive agro-industrial community where persons with disabilities can live, acquire vocational skills, access healthcare services, participate in agriculture and agro-processing, and establish sustainable businesses within an accessible environment.
He explained that the initiative is designed to move persons with disabilities away from poverty and dependence by creating opportunities for economic empowerment, skills development, and self-reliance.
Highlighting the need for the project, Gufwan noted that more than 35 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria continue to face unemployment and economic hardship, making the initiative a strategic complement to the Federal Government’s poverty reduction and job creation agenda.
He appealed to the Minister to champion the project by presenting a memorandum to the Federal Executive Council for national approval and budgetary support, facilitating collaboration among relevant ministries, and supporting the formal launch of the initiative.
Also speaking, the President of the Peace for Humanity Foundation, Dr. Thompson Udoh, revealed that the project has already received endorsement from the Council on Humanitarian Affairs. He added that the Nasarawa State Government has committed to hosting the pilot Farm City for the North Central geopolitical zone.
Udoh further disclosed that a Local Organising Committee has been inaugurated to coordinate nationwide implementation, while plans are underway to establish a National Steering Committee ahead of the official launch of the Renewed Hope Farm Cities Project for Persons with Disabilities.
When fully implemented, the Farm Cities Project is expected to create thousands of jobs for persons with disabilities and their caregivers, strengthen food security, reduce poverty, and provide a sustainable national model for disability-inclusive
