NADF Sets to Boost Agricultural Funding with Non-interest Finance

The National Agricultural Development Fund has commenced the validation of its proposed Non-Interest Finance Framework and Guidelines to widen access to agricultural financing and support the Federal Government’s food security objectives.
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This was contained in a statement issued by NADF on Tuesday following a Strategic Roundtable and Validation Session on the proposed framework and guidelines.

According to the statement, the initiative is aimed at ensuring that farmers, agribusinesses and other players across the agricultural value chain have access to diverse and innovative financing options.

The Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, said non-interest finance had become an important component of Nigeria’s financial system, providing ethical, asset-backed and risk-sharing financing models that complemented conventional finance.

“Our objective is not simply to introduce another financing framework. It is to broaden the financing ecosystem for agriculture by ensuring that every credible financing option is available to Nigerian farmers, agribusinesses, and other value chain actors,” Ibrahim said.

According to the statement, the proposed framework would provide a structured and transparent basis for delivering agricultural interventions through licensed non-interest financial institutions while institutionalising governance, operational and Shari’ah compliance standards.

Ibrahim said the documents were deliberately presented as drafts to allow stakeholders to scrutinise them and contribute their expertise before finalisation.

“Today’s gathering marks an important milestone in that journey,” he said, urging participants to examine the draft documents critically, challenge assumptions where necessary and share practical experiences.

The statement quoted the Director of the Development Finance Advisory Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Paul Oluikpe, as saying that significant work remained to be done to improve access to agricultural finance in Nigeria.

Oluikpe welcomed the proposed non-interest finance framework, describing it as an opportunity to bring an often-overlooked dimension of agricultural financing into the mainstream.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chairman of the CBN’s Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts, Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar, said the proposed framework was consistent with efforts to promote financial inclusion and expand access to finance.

“What we are witnessing today is also following this trajectory of financial inclusion and easing access to finance and having a level playing field and even developmental perspective for the whole country whereby no segment of society is left out,” he said.

NADF

Providing an overview of the initiative, NADF’s Head of Investment, Olalekan Alabi, said the framework and guidelines were designed to establish a structured mechanism for deploying non-interest financing to eligible agricultural activities and value-chain interventions.

“Together, the Framework and Guidelines are expected to provide clarity on how NADF’s non-interest financing interventions will be structured, assessed, approved, implemented, monitored and reported,” Alabi said.

He added, “We are not here simply to confirm that the documents have been prepared. We are here to test their technical robustness and practical applicability.”

Alabi said stakeholders were expected to identify gaps, inconsistencies, overlaps and provisions requiring further clarification before the documents were finalised.

“Our objective is to have a set of Framework and Guidelines that are clear, technically sound, operationally practical, appropriately governed and capable of supporting NADF’s non-interest agricultural financing interventions,” he said.

The statement said the validation session brought together representatives of government institutions and regulatory agencies, development partners, non-interest finance experts, financial institutions and other stakeholders in the agricultural and financial sectors.
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Nigeria Customs Concludes 2025 Recruitment Exercise, Almost 3,000 Candidates screened

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has concluded the final phase of its 2025 recruitment exercise, with shortlisted candidates completing documentation, physical fitness assessments, and medical screenings at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Gwagwalada, Abuja.
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The two-week exercise, which commenced on Monday, 7 September 2026, ended on Saturday, 19 September 2026, covering candidates across the Assistant Superintendent of Customs II (ASCII), Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres. The screening was conducted in batches to ensure an orderly process and reduce congestion at the centre.

Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said measures had been implemented to address gaps identified during the earlier phase, improve the screening process, and ensure greater efficiency.

“We have put measures in place to reduce congestion and ensure a smoother process this week. The gaps identified last week have been addressed, and we do not expect them to recur this week,” Onyeka stated, while emphasising the importance of discipline and responsibility among candidates.

Also speaking, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and member of the coordinating team, Adamu Musa, stated that the exercise had recorded significant improvements, with close to 3,000 candidates screened so far without any casualty. He attributed the progress to the introduction of personalised screening forms containing candidates’ records across the various assessment stages.

“Any candidate that has been shortlisted has a form designed especially for him, unlike in the past where you come, they issue you a form, and then some people along the way go and even change some of the records. These forms come with the candidates’ records, including their names and details for sports, medical, documentation, and the checklist of required items. So, once the candidate comes, you just verify what you already have from the system,” Musa explained.

Musa stressed the importance of continuous manpower development to strengthen the Service’s capacity to meet its evolving responsibilities in national security, border protection, and other services to the nation. He said the growing demands on Customs underscore the need to continually improve its workforce.

Customs

He further disclosed that candidates would be evaluated based on criteria set by the Service, including age, physical fitness, and drug screening. He explained that candidates who test positive for hard drugs, exceed the stipulated age limit, or have physical conditions that may affect their duties could be disqualified, subject to management’s final decision.

Musa also advised candidates and members of the public to verify recruitment information through the Service’s official website and verified social media platforms to avoid fraudulent messages.
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Navy Uncovers 182,000 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers Community

The Nigerian Navy has uncovered approximately 182,000 litres of substance suspected to be stolen crude oil in Bethel Creeks, Rivers State, in another major disruption of illicit crude oil storage and transfer activities within the area.
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The discovery was made by FOB BONNY on 22 September 2026 during a follow-up operation based on actionable information concerning suspicious activities around the creeks. The operation uncovered 8 dugout pits, 5 of which contained the suspected stolen crude oil, while 3 were empty. Hoses associated with the movement of crude oil were also discovered and subsequently handled in accordance with established procedures.

The latest discovery comes barely two weeks after FOB BONNY uncovered approximately 87,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil at 4 newly activated illegal refining sites around Aworkiri on 8 September 2026. The earlier operation also exposed 19 dugout pits and associated infrastructure, indicating attempts to establish facilities for the storage and handling of stolen crude oil.

The successive discoveries highlight the Nigerian Navy’s expanding focus on denying criminal operators the storage and transfer infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft, rather than allowing illicit activities to become re-established after previous disruptions.

Navy

The latest operation further constrains the availability of crude oil and supporting infrastructure for illegal exploitation within the area.

ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO

Navy Captain Director Naval Information Nigerian Navy
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