The Nigerian Legion has begun engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture to secure subsidised farm inputs and implements for military veterans engaged in agriculture.
This was disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja during a medical outreach organised for veterans as part of activities marking the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
Some veterans at the outreach said high costs of farm inputs were undermining their post-retirement livelihoods.
A retired Master Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Air Force, Mr Emmanuel Waniko, said he turned to farming after retirement, but rising prices of fertiliser, agro-chemicals and machinery had made the venture difficult.
He urged the government to prioritise veteran farmers in agricultural intervention programmes, noting that pensions were no longer sufficient to absorb escalating production costs.
Another retiree, Mr Magaji Abdallah, a retired Master Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, commended government reforms in pension administration but appealed for broader support, including agricultural assistance for retirees in rural areas.
Responding specifically to concerns raised by veteran farmers, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Mrs Grace Henry, said discussions were ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to provide subsidised farm inputs.
She said the Legion had formally applied for access to fertilisers, agro-chemicals and farming implements to ease production costs for veterans involved in agriculture.
“We have applied, and discussions are ongoing. Farming is a key area we are advocating for, and we are hopeful of positive outcomes,” Henry said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwa, said the outreach, initiated by the AFCRD 2026 Planning Committee, was aimed at supporting veterans, including those who had taken up farming after retirement.
Although the event focused largely on medical support, Pheelangwa noted that veterans’ welfare extended beyond healthcare, adding that institutional mechanisms were in place to address their long-term needs.
The outreach also featured free medical services, including eye screening and blood pressure checks, as well as treatment and referrals for other ailments.
PUNCH Online reports that 25kg bags of rice were distributed to about 100 beneficiaries at the event.
The access to subsidised agricultural inputs would help improve the livelihoods of veterans who are farmers..
