A coalition of aquaculture professionals under the National Aquaculture Professionals Alliance (NAPA) has welcomed the appointment of Yazeed Shehu Danfulani as the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), while issuing a clear challenge that his tenure must deliver tangible results for farmers.
In a statement signed by NAPA President, Engr. Ibrahim Ayotola Bamidele, the group commended President Bola Tinubu for what they described as a "strategic choice" but emphasized that farmers are weary of appointments that fail to translate into meaningful support.
"For years, fish farmers have suffered in silence—plagued by floods, disease outbreaks, and unpredictable production costs—with little to no insurance support," Bamidele stated. "Mr. Danfulani's appointment is a moment of renewed hope, but it must lead to action."
Bridging the Gap Between NAIC and Grassroots Farmers
The group highlighted that despite its mandate, NAIC has remained largely inaccessible to everyday farmers, particularly smallholder aquaculture operators who form the backbone of Nigeria's protein supply chain.
"The truth is, NAIC has been largely invisible to grassroots farmers. This is the time to change that," Bamidele remarked, urging Danfulani to break from past practices and introduce practical insurance schemes that are accessible, affordable, and responsive to farmers' needs.
According to NAPA, Danfulani's background in finance, agriculture, and enterprise development positions him well to transform NAIC, but only if matched with the political will to reform the institution into a truly farmer-focused organization.
Potential for Agricultural Growth Through Risk Mitigation
Bamidele emphasized that the aquaculture sector has significant potential to contribute to food security, foreign exchange earnings, and employment if properly supported with risk mitigation tools like insurance.
"The reason many young Nigerians avoid agriculture is because of the risks. But if NAIC is repositioned under Danfulani to offer responsive insurance schemes and timely payouts, more people will be willing to invest in farming," he noted.
The association called for increased stakeholder engagement, suggesting that NAIC should organize town halls, visit hatcheries and ponds, and demonstrate a visible presence in the agricultural community rather than remaining "a name on paper."
Call for Government Support
NAPA also appealed to the Federal Government to provide Danfulani's leadership with the necessary policy and budgetary support to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda in agriculture.
"The agricultural sector is key to the Tinubu administration's diversification agenda. We urge Mr. President to give NAIC and its new leadership the resources, legal backing, and institutional support required to succeed," the statement read.
The association pledged its readiness to support NAIC's efforts through collaboration, data sharing, and awareness campaigns to encourage more farmers to embrace agricultural insurance.
"This appointment means nothing if we don't take advantage of it. We are ready to partner with NAIC to sensitise our members and ensure that the benefits of insurance are felt across the sector," Bamidele concluded.
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