Agric Minister says Nigeria records food price drop as local production rises

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr Aliyu Abdullahi Sabi, has attributed the recent decline in food prices across Nigeria to increased local production, government-backed interventions, and the onset of the harvest season.

Speaking in Abuja during the commemoration of World Food Day, Sabi said the ongoing fall in food prices is a direct result of sustained investments in large-scale farming since 2023 under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme (NAGS) Agro-Pocket programme.

“From 2023, we went into massive production through the NAGS Agro-Pocket programme. We injected almost 500,000 metric tonnes or more of wheat, including maize, cassava, and other commodities. This ramped-up production is what’s responsible for the drop in food prices,” the minister stated.

He dismissed speculations that the Federal Government imported food to force down prices, clarifying that the import window opened last year was only to bridge temporary production deficits.

“What government did was to allow a limited import window to cover the deficit. But I can tell you for a fact that the imported items have not even been released. The claims that imported food is what crashed prices are not true,” Sabi emphasised.

According to him, the mere announcement of potential imports triggered panic among hoarders, prompting them to release stockpiled goods into the market, a move that also contributed to the fall in prices.

“Because people heard that government was going to import food, those who were hoarding began to release their stock. When supply increases, prices naturally come down,” he explained.

The minister further linked the trend to the ongoing harvest season, which traditionally ushers in a period of abundance.

“We are now in the period of harvest, starting from the southern part of the country to the central and northern regions. During this period, food prices will continue to fall,” he said.

Sabi also commended state governments for complementing federal efforts through buffer stock programmes and free input distribution to smallholder farmers, initiatives he said have reduced production costs and boosted national food reserves.

He recalled President Bola Tinubu’s directive last year for the release of over two million bags of fertiliser to farmers, describing it as a major move to ease production expenses.

“Yes, people still complain about fertiliser prices, but the intervention made a significant impact. Many of those who benefited last year are still using the savings and inputs for this farming season,” he added.

On mechanisation, Sabi disclosed that new Belarus tractors stationed in Sheda will soon be deployed to Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centres nationwide to give farmers affordable access to modern farming tools.

“The President has made it clear that these tractors must not end up in the wrong hands. They are equipped with advanced technology; some will even shut down automatically if due for servicing and not maintained,” he noted.

He added that the mechanisation drive would include operator training and spare parts support to ensure sustainability and create job opportunities for young Nigerians.

The minister further revealed that the government is reviewing the performance of companies that benefited from silo concessions to ensure compliance with agreements.

“Those who are performing may have their contracts renewed, while those failing will face termination. These facilities belong to Nigerians and must serve national food security,” he said.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to achieving food sufficiency, Sabi said the current administration is leveraging technology, innovation, and partnership to strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural base.

“We have the highest political will ever given to this sector. With all we are doing, from inputs and mechanisation to digital agriculture, Nigeria will soon witness a new era of food sufficiency and value addition,” Sabi added.

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