Food Prices Have Dropped Nationwide – Minister

Nigerians are beginning to feel some relief at the markets as the prices of food items record a noticeable decline, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.

Speaking on a televised interview on Friday, Kyari credited the drop to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security measures, which he said are already making a tangible difference.

He explained that the government’s strategy has been a mix of boosting local production while temporarily allowing imports to address long-standing gaps in the agricultural sector.

“President Tinubu came into office at a time when Nigeria was facing deep-rooted challenges in food security. 

"Declaring a state of emergency in July 2023 was necessary to quickly stabilise the situation,” Kyari said.

The minister stressed that the temporary importation window was not designed to discourage farmers but to balance supply and demand in the short term. He revealed that the policy lasted only six months and has now ended.

“Importation was strictly limited and has since closed. At the same time, the administration ensured massive support for local farmers to boost productivity,” he noted.

Kyari pointed out that Nigeria still has a supply gap in critical staples such as rice, where local output falls short of national demand. 

According to him, government interventions sought to close this gap without undermining agricultural producers.

As part of these measures, President Tinubu ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to release two million bags of fertiliser for free distribution to farmers. 

The minister added that other programmes provided fertiliser subsidies of up to 50 per cent, which helped farmers increase yields significantly in 2024.

“Food security is about availability, affordability, and accessibility. These interventions created a balance, ensuring Nigerians could see lower prices without slowing down local production,” Kyari explained.

Recently, Tinubu directed a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to roll out further urgent steps aimed at reducing food costs nationwide. 

Analysts say the administration’s approach shows a willingness to combine short-term relief with long-term agricultural reform.