Economy
Isidore Brightens Spirits of Smallholder Farmers Affected by Floods
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Last year, Nigeria witnessed one of its worst floods after a similar occurrence a decade earlier. The flooding wreaked havoc on farmlands and destroyed the livelihoods of many smallholder farmers.
Just when victims are feeling like all hope to restart their lives is lost, a Nigerian agritech startup, Isidore, is brightening their spirits.
According to the founder of Isidore, Ms Karen Adie, smallholder farmers are very critical to Nigeria and its food security, and they must not be left alone because it would affect the nation.
Isidore, a member of the Founders Factory Africa startup portfolio, provides access to capital, market linkages, and value-add tools to smallholder farmers. This is so that smallholder farmers can maximise income from their labour. Many of their customers are in the states worst affected by this year’s flooding.
With smallholder farmers making up 85 per cent of Nigeria’s farming community, floods like the ones experienced in Northern Nigeria in 2022 highlight the delicate balance these farmers maintain in providing for their families and themselves while feeding their surrounding communities.
“For farmers in low-lying areas like Argungu in Kebbi state, the floods were a terrible jeopardy. Many have lost their livelihood and their homes. Suddenly, we were faced with a COVID-level humanitarian crisis,” Ms Adie stated.
“The daily realities of these communities, which are usually impoverished, are real. Yet, they are facing the brunt of climate change, which has created an uncertainty they live with daily.
“Without smallholder farmers, hunger would skyrocket in northern Nigeria. These farmers are our partners. As Isidore, we had to do something,” she added.
She stated that her firm has come up with an initiative, Habitats for Hope Program, to bring succour to smallholder farmers in the country.
Run out of Isidore’s Lagos head office, the Habitats for Hope Program was founded to provide welfare support to grain farmers in rural agrarian communities, with farmers able to join the program by registering on Isidore’s Jinja platform.
“To join the program, you need to be a grain farmer, a member of a farming community or association, and be willing to use the Jinja platform. The platform allows us to directly interact with program beneficiaries quickly, with its existing infrastructure allowing us to scale the program at speed,” Adie explains.
“In terms of what we’ve achieved so far, we identified a total of 44 homes that need to be rebuilt – we split this into 3 phases; we’re currently in phase 1, working on the homes of 6 farmers.
“So far, since the program’s inception in October 2022, we’ve identified 44 homes that need to be rebuilt. The building program has been split into three phases. We are currently in phase 1, working on six homes destroyed by the flooding in Kebbi state. We have 40 local volunteers helping us and our beneficiaries rebuild their homes, and by extension, their communities, as quickly as possible,” she disclosed.
Ms Adie hopes that from these seeds, the program can work with over 200 farming communities in Nigeria by December 2024. Beyond flood assistance, the Habitats For Hope Program focuses more broadly on housing and living conditions, education and skills development, and healthcare and disease prevention.
“We could not just limit the program to housing and living conditions. If a farmer gets sick and cannot tend to their land, it directly impacts that farmer’s ability to feed themselves, their family, and the surrounding community that relies on them. Worse, it directly impacts that farmer’s livelihood, with the sale of excess crops being their primary source of income.
“Coupled with this, education can play a vital role in allowing farmers to increase crop yield and use new ways to farm their lands. A larger yield means greater food security and can make a tangible difference in farmers’ lives through the money they make selling their produce,” she stated.
With the program in its infancy, Ms Adie and the Isidore team are searching for partners to enlarge the program’s impact. Partners could contribute financially to procure materials and extend the program’s ability to develop affected communities.
The provision of volunteers, building materials, equipment, farming inputs, and healthcare is just as critical. Furthermore, access to training, skills development and other service contributions are being sought.
Business Post recalled that between August and October 2022, floods ravaged thousands of homes across northern Nigeria, with the states of Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano and Sokoto significantly affected.
It is believed that at least 30 people died due to the flooding, with survivors now having to pick up the pieces.
Beyond the destruction of homes and loss of life, the flooding represents a mortal threat to the livelihoods and food security of farmers and people living in flooded areas, with vital farmlands ruined and critical roads and bridges washed away.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The series 1 of the N10 billion Commercial Paper (CP) issuance of Legend Internet Plc recorded an oversubscription of 19.7 per cent from investors.
This reaffirmed the strong confidence in the company’s financial stability and growth trajectory.
The exercise is a critical component of Legend Internet’s N10 billion multi-layered financing programme, designed to support its medium- to long-term growth.
Proceeds are expected to be used for broadband infrastructure expansion to deepen nationwide penetration, optimise the organisation’s working capital for operational efficiency, strategic acquisitions that will strengthen its market position and accelerate service innovation.
The telecommunications firm sees the acceptance of the debt instruments as a response to its performance, credit profile, and disciplined operational structure, noting it also reflects continued trust in its ability to execute on its strategic vision for nationwide digital infrastructure expansion.
“The strong investor participation in our Series 1 Commercial Paper issuance is both encouraging and validating. It demonstrates the market’s belief in our financial integrity, operational strength, and long-term vision for digital infrastructure growth. This support fuels our commitment to building a more connected, competitive, and digitally enabled Nigeria.
“This milestone is not just a financing event; it is a strategic enabler of our expansion plans, working capital needs, and future acquisitions. We extend our sincere appreciation to our investors, advisers, and market partners whose confidence continues to propel Legend Internet forward,” the chief executive of Legend Internet, Ms Aisha Abdulaziz, commented.
Also commenting, the Chief Financial Officer of Legend Internet, Mr Chris Pitan, said, “This achievement is powered by our disciplined financing framework, which enables us to scale sustainably, innovate continuously, and consistently meet the evolving needs of our customers.
“We remain committed to building a future where every connection drives opportunity, productivity, and growth for communities across Nigeria.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu will, on Friday, present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.
The presentation, scheduled for 2:00 pm, was conveyed in a notice issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly.
According to the notice, all accredited persons are required to be at their duty posts by 11:00 am on the day of the presentation, as access into the National Assembly Complex will be restricted thereafter for security reasons.
The notice, signed by the Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development, Mr Essien Eyo Essien, on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, urged all concerned to ensure strict compliance with the arrangements ahead of the President’s budget presentation.
The 2026 budget is projected at N54.4 trillion, according to the approved 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to repeal and re-enact the 2024 appropriation act in separate letters to the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday and read during plenary by the presiding officers.
The bill was titled Appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2) 2024, involving a total proposed expenditure of N43.56 trillion.
In a letter dated December 16, 2025, the President said the bill seeks authorisation for the issuance of a total sum of N43.56 trillion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the year ending December 31, 2025.
A breakdown of the proposed expenditure shows N1.74 trillion for statutory transfers, N8.27 trillion for debt service, N11.27 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N22.28 trillion for capital expenditure and development fund contributions.
The President said the proposed legislation is aimed at ending the practice of running multiple budgets concurrently, while ensuring reasonable – indeed unprecedentedly high – capital performance rates on the 2024 and 2025 capital budgets.
He explained that the bill also provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded framework for consolidating and appropriating critical and time-sensitive expenditures undertaken in response to emergency situations, national security concerns, and other urgent needs.
President Tinubu added that the bill strengthens fiscal discipline and accountability by mandating that funds be released strictly for purposes approved by the National Assembly, restricting virement without prior legislative approval, and setting conditions for corrigenda in cases of genuine implementation errors.
The bill, which passed first and second reading in the House of Representatives, has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations for further legislative action.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the export of wood and allied products, revoking all previously issued licenses and permits to exporters.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, during the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment in Katsina State.
Mr Lawal said the directive, outlined in the Presidential Executive Order titled Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, became necessary to curb illegal logging and deforestation across the country.
“Nigeria’s forests are central to environmental sustainability, providing clean air and water, supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of climate change,” the Minister said, warning that the continued exportation of wood threatens these benefits and the long-term health of the environment.
The order, published in the Extraordinary Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 180, Vol. 112 of 16 October 2025, relies on Sections 17(2) and 20 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empower the state to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife and prevent the exploitation of natural resources for private gain.
Under the new policy, security agencies and relevant ministries are expected to enforce a total clampdown on illegal logging activities nationwide.
On his part, the Katsina State Deputy Governor, Mr Faruk Lawal Jobe highlighted the state’s history of pioneering socio-economic policies that have influenced national policy. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges across the country.
“Environmental sustainability is critical to achieving growth and improving the quality of life of our people,” he said. “Our administration has prioritised initiatives aimed at combating desertification and promoting afforestation.”
The ban reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s shrinking forest cover and addressing climate change, while ensuring sustainable use of natural resources for future generations.
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