The Head of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Clearinghouse, Dr. Solomon Gizaw, has stated that Africa spends about $20 billion a year on wheat imports.
According to The Times, he made this statement at a Train-the-Trainer course on wheat seed production in Kano.
He claimed that supply delays and higher wheat prices in Africa have resulted in significant financial hardships for the continent due to the ongoing crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
Dr. Gizaw said that Nigeria has the resources needed to grow wheat domestically, both to feed itself and its bordering African countries.
Gizaw continued by pointing out that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused a disruption in supplies as well as a rise in wheat prices.
He did, however, voice hope that Nigeria would become “Self-sufficient if wheat production continues on its current track.”
Nigeria imported wheat for over N970 billion between October 2022 and September 2023.
Nigeria imported N783.26 billion worth of wheat between January and September of 2023—a N28.66 billion increase over the same period in 2022, when imports totaled NN753.60 billion.
The main ingredient used to make bread, pasta, noodles, and other staple foods in Nigeria is wheat flour.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has recently resulted in a disruption of global supply chains and an increase in the price of commodities on the global market, driving up the cost of these products.
