Nigeria is poised to significantly reduce its reliance on food imports, as announced by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
He outlined an ambitious strategy aimed at enhancing domestic agricultural production and improving food security.
Edun made this disclosure at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, according to The Punch.
He declared that the era of heavy food importation must come to an end, framing this shift as a key element of the government’s economic recovery strategy.
“We should not be importing food,” Edun stated, stressing that Nigeria’s future lies in self-sufficiency.
He stated that the government is dedicated to supporting small-scale farmers by supplying essential inputs like seeds and fertilizers through initiatives such as the Nigerian Agricultural Growth Scheme.
The support will aim to improve both wet and dry season harvests, reducing short-term import needs while boosting long-term productivity.
As an immediate action, the government has authorized imports of maize and wheat to stabilize the food market.
However, Edun emphasized the need to balance these imports with a strong focus on domestic production.
“It is critical that we do not disrupt domestic production of food. It is critical that we do not disrupt farming in Nigeria by flooding the market with imports,” he warned.
Edun stressed that the move away from food imports is not only an economic necessity but also a vital step toward achieving Nigeria’s future self-sufficiency.
“The support will focus on enhancing both the wet and dry season harvests, reducing the need for imports in the short term while boosting productivity in the long term.
As an immediate measure, the government has ordered maize and wheat imports to stabilise the food market.
However, Edun stressed the importance of balancing this with domestic production.
“It is critical that we do not disrupt domestic production of food. It is critical that we do not disrupt farming in Nigeria by flooding the market with imports,” he warned.
Edun pointed out that the move away from food imports is not only an economic necessity but also a vital step toward achieving Nigeria’s.
“This is not where we should be,” he said of the country’s reliance on imported food. The new strategy, he argued, will put Nigeria on the path to economic independence and food security.
Nigeria has been facing rising food prices and a struggling agricultural sector, which yields significantly less than global standards.
The government’s long-term goal is to more than double agricultural productivity by enhancing local seed varieties and adopting better farming practices.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, highlighted the country’s growing population as a critical challenge.
Bagudu pointed out that Nigeria’s population has nearly doubled from 119 million in 1999 to 230 million today, leading to a significant increase in demand for infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
