The Federal Government, via the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has unveiled immediate actions to combat the rising cost of food in Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the announcement on his official X account, detailing a 180-day duty-free import period for food commodities.
This period will include the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on imports of specific food items through land and sea borders.
The commodities targeted in this initiative are maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
“Our administration has unveiled a series of strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting our nation. These measures will be implemented over the next 180 days,” Kyari said.
To achieve these goals, the imported food commodities will be sold at a Recommended Retail Price (RRP). “We understand concerns about the quality of these imports, especially regarding their genetic composition.
The government assures that all standards will be maintained to ensure the safety and quality of food items for consumption,” Kyari assured.
The plan includes importing 250,000 metric tons each of wheat and maize, which will be provided to small-scale processors and millers nationwide.
Additional measures involve setting a GMP, purchasing surplus food to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve, and ramping up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle.
Support for smallholder farmers during the current wet season will continue through existing initiatives, and efforts will be made to strengthen dry season farming across the country.
The government also aims to enhance agricultural mechanization, reducing drudgery, lowering production costs, and boosting productivity.
Collaborations with sub-national entities will focus on identifying irrigable lands to expand cultivation, and irrigation facilities under river basin authorities will be rehabilitated in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
The government will engage youth and women in immediate greenhouse cultivation of crops like tomatoes and peppers to stabilize prices and address shortages.
Ongoing discussions with the Nigerian Military will expedite the cultivation of arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme, and other paramilitary groups will be encouraged to utilize available lands for farming.
Kyari also announced the inauguration of the Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee to prioritize livestock development in line with the National Livestock Transformation Plan, alongside the creation of a Ministry of Livestock Development.
To enhance nutrition security, the government will promote the production of fortified food commodities and support the scale-up of the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria.
“The success of these measures hinges on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant MDAs and stakeholders. As our nation confronts this critical food security challenge, I reiterate President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security and ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. My team and I will work swiftly and diligently to actualize these crucial policies, ensuring food security for everyone in the immediate term while continuing our strategies for long-term interventions to address underlying causes and ensure sustainable and resilient food systems in Nigeria,” Kyari added.
