The Federal Government has announced that the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria will ease within the next 180 days. This declaration was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on Wednesday, July 10, via his social media platform.
This announcement comes at a time of widespread frustration among Nigerians over increasing hardship and hunger. Minister Kyari outlined a series of strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting the nation.
“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 stated.
Key components of the plan include:
150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities:
- Suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders, including maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
- Imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) to ensure affordability.
- The Federal Government assures that all standards will be maintained to ensure the safety and quality of food items.
Importation and Distribution:
- The government will import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize. These semi-processed commodities will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
- Engagement with relevant stakeholders to set a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) and purchase surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve.
Increasing Production for the 2024/2025 Farming Cycle:
- Continued support to smallholder farmers during the ongoing wet season farming through existing government initiatives.
- Strengthening and accelerating dry season farming nationwide.
- Aggressive agricultural mechanization to reduce drudgery, lower production costs, and boost productivity.
- Collaboration with sub-national entities to identify irrigable lands and increase the land under cultivation.
- Working closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under river basin authorities across the federation.
Youth and Women Engagement:
- Developing strategic engagement for youth and women for immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and peppers to increase production volume, stabilize prices, and address food shortages.
- Fast-tracking ongoing engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme and encouraging other paramilitary establishments to utilize available arable lands for cultivation.
Livestock Development:
- The Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, to develop and implement policies prioritizing livestock development in alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
- Creation of a Ministry of Livestock Development.
Enhancement of Nutrition Security:
- Promoting the production of fortified food commodities.
- Supporting the scale-up of the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Minister Kyari also explained that over the next 14 days, in close collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT), respective agencies will finalize the implementation frameworks to ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders across the country.
“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,” the Minister added.
