In a bid to address hardship due to the soaring costs of essential food items across Nigeria, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Kyari has announced a series of ambitious measures aimed at stabilizing prices and boosting food production.
The unveiling took place during a press briefing held on Monday, highlighting a strategic roadmap to be implemented over the next 180 days.
Senator Abubakar Kyari outlined the key initiatives as follows:
- 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities: The government will suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of critical food commodities such as Maize, Husked Brown Rice, Wheat, and Cowpeas through both land and sea borders. These imports will be subject to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) to ensure affordability and accessibility for consumers.
- Government-Led Importation: In addition to private sector imports, the Federal Government plans to import 250,000 metric tons (MT) each of Wheat and Maize. These semi-processed food commodities will be targeted at supporting small-scale processors and millers nationwide.
- Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) and Strategic Food Reserve: Stakeholders will collaborate to set a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) for various food commodities while implementing measures to mop up surplus stocks to replenish the National Strategic Food Reserve.
- Ramp-Up Production and Agricultural Development: The ministry will intensify support for smallholder farmers during the ongoing wet season farming and accelerate activities for the forthcoming 2024/2025 farming cycle. This includes expanding dry season farming, enhancing agricultural mechanization, identifying irrigable lands, and rehabilitating irrigation facilities across the country. Special attention will be given to engaging youth and women in greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops like tomatoes and peppers.
- Livestock Transformation: The Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee will be inaugurated to oversee policies aimed at prioritizing livestock development in alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
- Enhancement of Nutrition Security: Efforts will focus on promoting the production of fortified food commodities and scaling up the Home Garden Initiative, led by the Office of The First Lady, to enhance household nutrition.
Senator Kyari emphasized the importance of collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders to ensure the success of these initiatives.
He assured Nigerians of President Tinubu’s commitment to achieving food security and alleviating hunger nationwide.
“As our nation confronts a critical food security challenge, let me reiterate Mr. President’s unwavering commitment to attaining food security and ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry,” Senator Kyari affirmed.
“We are poised to swiftly implement these crucial policies to secure food availability in the immediate term, while planning for sustainable long-term solutions.”
The Ministry, in conjunction with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT), will finalize implementation frameworks and ensure transparency through a dedicated dashboard for monitoring progress and accountability.
These measures mark a significant step towards mitigating food shortages and stabilizing prices, reflecting a proactive approach by the Tinubu administration to tackle one of Nigeria’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
The public is encouraged to engage actively with these initiatives, ensuring broad participation and support to achieve the desired outcomes for national food security.