Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, has assured that the federal government is implementing a series of interventions to stabilise food prices, enhance availability, and sustain the country’s food system through all-year-round farming, mechanisation and improved logistics.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Thursday to mark World Food Day, Senator Abdullahi said the government is encouraged by recent reports showing food inflation at its lowest level in over three years but acknowledged that many Nigerians still find food prices high.
“Food security is a very serious issue, and that is why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency. We are still in that state of emergency,” he said.
“Our strategy is to ramp up production. We started with dry-season farming in 2023, but we have now moved beyond that — we’re pursuing all-year-round farming. The focus is to produce more of the staple foods Nigerians consume under the Nigerian First Policy, which promotes the idea of producing what we eat and consuming what we produce.”
The minister said low yield remains one of the key challenges confronting Nigeria’s farmers, adding that his ministry has revived the nation’s seed system, which had previously collapsed.
“When we came on board, the food seed system was comatose. We have now revived the planning process — from breeder to foundation to certified seeds. That system is back, and it is helping us achieve better results,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that the government is addressing low mechanisation by introducing smallholder farming tools, tillers, and other farm machinery, while also preparing to distribute 2,000 tractors in the next production cycle to boost productivity.
“We are also dealing with post-harvest losses,” he said. “We’re providing small-scale processing equipment to farmers, especially those producing perishables like tomatoes and onions. Through our Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, we are promoting nutrient-dense processed foods that can be stored and used during lean periods.”
To improve soil productivity, Abdullahi said the ministry has launched a Farmer’s Soil Health Scheme, designed to help farmers understand their soil conditions, determine nutrient deficiencies, and apply the right fertilisers.
On the issue of food price differences across states, the minister explained that logistics and transportation challenges — not production shortfalls — are largely responsible.
“Transportation costs and road conditions affect food prices. Most of our food is produced in certain zones and transported to high-consumption centres. The Federal Executive Council has approved a committee chaired by my colleague, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to help transporters of agricultural produce enjoy easier passage and reduced costs,” he said.
“We have conducted studies on how much marketers spend moving goods from places like Kano, Jos, Bauchi, or Gombe down south — and it’s significant. Those costs are passed on to consumers.”
He emphasised that while food is available nationwide, the major challenge is affordability, which he described as a macroeconomic issue beyond the scope of the agriculture ministry. However, he said ongoing efforts — including lower production costs, better logistics, and improved storage — would help make prices fairer.
“If farmers are supported to produce at lower costs, they will charge fairer prices. We are also promoting buffer stock storage at federal and state levels and developing special agro-processing zones in Kaduna and Abeokuta to reduce post-harvest losses,” he said.
Responding to concerns about imported foods being cheaper than locally grown ones, Abdullahi attributed it to differences in infrastructure and production systems.
“Different countries have different production economies. Some have advanced infrastructure that lowers their costs. That’s exactly what we are trying to fix. President Tinubu is working to renew Nigeria’s infrastructure, including rural access roads, through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme,” he explained.
The minister gave assurances that food will remain available and become more affordable as the harvest season approaches, promising Nigerians a more stable market by the festive period.
“We are working very hard to ensure that food will be available and affordable. If during the lean period prices are already coming down, you can imagine what will happen when harvest begins,” he said.
Senator Abdullahi reaffirmed that the government’s priority is sustainability rather than temporary relief.
“It’s not about a boom-and-bust cycle,” he said. “We want a sustainable food system that guarantees availability, accessibility, and affordability for all Nigerians.”
Boluwatife Enome
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