The Enugu State Government has approved the distribution of free farm inputs to 63,000 registered smallholder farmers as part of efforts to boost food production and improve farmers’ livelihoods during the 2026 farming season.
The decision was announced after the State Executive Council meeting, alongside the approval for the recruitment of 4,698 additional teachers for the state’s Smart Green Schools and the immediate reactivation of isolation centres to strengthen preparedness against the Ebola outbreak reported in parts of East Africa.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Ubru, said Governor Peter Mbah will officially flag off the distribution of fertilizers, agrochemicals, rice, maize, pepper and tomato seeds on Tuesday before supplies are distributed across the state’s 260 political wards.
He explained that only duly registered and verified smallholder farmers whose farms have been documented would benefit from the programme to ensure transparency and effective monitoring.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, said the recruitment of 4,698 teachers is aimed at fully staffing the state’s 267 Smart Green Schools and sustaining the government’s education reform agenda.
He added that the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation (CELI) would continue to train teachers while supporting innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development among young people in the state.
On the health sector, Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, said the government has directed the immediate reactivation of all COVID-19 isolation centres as a precautionary response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Uganda.
He noted that the move is necessary because Enugu now serves as an international gateway with direct international flights, making disease preparedness a priority.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the State Executive Council has directed contractors handling hospital expansion projects to accelerate work, with the Enugu International Hospital expected to be commissioned in the coming weeks.
