Food Prices Have Reduced By 50% – FG

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says the prices of some essential food commodities have dropped by as much as 50 per cent compared with their levels before 2023.

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Kyari made the claim on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while addressing a Community of Practice Meeting attended by commissioners overseeing agriculture, health, environment and rural development across the country.

The meeting was convened by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government, with support from the German government.

The gathering focused on ways to deepen cooperation among governments and other stakeholders to improve food production and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.

According to Kyari, the Federal Government’s agricultural policies are designed to increase food supply, reduce pressure on consumers and create stronger economic opportunities in rural communities.

He said the reported decline in commodity prices had occurred alongside increased distribution of agricultural inputs, investment in rural infrastructure and assistance to smallholder farmers.

“Some essential food commodities have recorded price reductions of up to 50 per cent,” Kyari said, urging Nigerians to assess the trend through actual market figures.

The minister also defended the administration of President Bola Tinubu against criticism over food prices, saying the government’s performance should be measured with verifiable data.

“Let us compare what a bag of rice or maize cost in 2023 with what it costs today and examine the figures objectively,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Maiduguri meeting also provided an avenue for stakeholders to review Nigeria’s commitments under the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration and its 2026–2035 strategy.

Kyari said the framework would address areas including food and nutrition security, agricultural financing, trade, climate resilience, inclusion and better governance.

He disclosed that Nigeria had developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to guide the country’s implementation of the continental framework.

The minister said stronger collaboration between federal and state governments would be critical to building a food system capable of withstanding economic and climate-related pressures.

He added that sustained investment in agriculture remained essential to ensuring adequate food production and making food more affordable for Nigerians.