On Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced several measures aimed at reducing high food prices in the country. These measures include a 150-day duty-free import window for certain food commodities, as part of efforts by the Economic Management Team (EMT) under the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) formed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2024.
Key Measures Announced:
- 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window:
– Suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of specific food commodities such as maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through land and sea borders.
– Imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) to ensure affordability and quality.
- Government Importation of Key Commodities:
– The Federal Government will import 250,000 metric tonnes each of wheat and maize. These semi-processed imports will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers nationwide.
- Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP):
– Engagement with stakeholders to set GMP and mop up surplus food commodities to replenish the National Strategic Food Reserve.
- Support for Farming Cycles:
– Continued support for smallholder farmers during the ongoing wet season and accelerated dry season farming.
– Aggressive agricultural mechanization and development to boost productivity and reduce production costs.
– Collaboration with sub-national entities to identify and utilize irrigable lands.
– Rehabilitation and maintenance of irrigation facilities in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
- Youth and Women Engagement:
– Strategic engagement for immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and pepper.
– Engagement with the Nigerian Military and other para-military establishments to cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme.
- Livestock Development:
– Inauguration of the Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee on July 9, 2024, to align with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
- Nutrition Security:
– Promotion of fortified food commodities production and support for scaling up the Home Garden Initiative by the Office of The First Lady of Nigeria
- Implementation and Monitoring:
– Finalization of implementation frameworks in collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the EMT within the next 14 days.
– Publicly available information to facilitate stakeholder participation.
– PFSCU to manage a dashboard providing direct visibility to the President for accountability.
Minister Kyari emphasized the importance of cooperation among relevant MDAs and stakeholders to ensure the success of these measures. He reassured Nigerians of President Tinubu’s commitment to achieving food security and eliminating hunger across the nation.
These measures are part of a broader strategy to address immediate food inflation and ensure long-term sustainable and resilient food systems in Nigeria. The government aims to swiftly and diligently implement these policies to stabilize food prices and support the agricultural sector.
