FG to Reactivate Dormant Silos to Stem Over $10 Billion Annual Post-Harvest Losses

The Federal Government of Nigeria has intensified efforts to tackle the nation’s escalating post-harvest losses, which are estimated to cost the economy more than $10 billion every year. Central to this strategy is the plan to reclaim and modernize idle silos across the country, a move aimed at boosting storage capacity and reducing food wastage. Announcing the initiative during the 16th African Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, unveiled the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST). Designed as a decade-long intervention, NiPHaST will inject $3.5 billion over 10 years into revamping the country’s post-harvest systems. The program prioritizes the rehabilitation of underutilized silos, alongside the expansion of household storage facilities, community warehouses, and national strategic reserves through partnerships with private sector stakeholders. “The reclamation of idle silos is a critical step in our strategy to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen Nigeria’s food security,” Senator Kyari stated, emphasizing that improving storage infrastructure would help stabilize food prices and enhance the livelihoods of farmers nationwide. Despite these plans, the initiative faces significant hurdles. Challenges such as inadequate cold chain infrastructure, erratic electricity supply, and limited technical expertise to maintain storage facilities have hampered previous post-harvest interventions. Financing remains another major constraint, with many farmers and small-scale storage operators struggling to access credit for modern equipment. The economic and social stakes of post-harvest losses in Nigeria are high. With over $10 billion lost annually, smallholder farmers bear the brunt of inefficiencies in the storage and distribution system, and the country’s dependence on imported food products continues to rise. By reducing these losses, NiPHaST aims to make staple foods more affordable and available, while supporting domestic agriculture and reducing pressure on national food imports. Experts have welcomed the government’s renewed focus on silos, noting that properly managed storage facilities could significantly reduce wastage, prevent seasonal price spikes, and improve national food security. They also stress that effective implementation will require not just investment in infrastructure, but also capacity building for personnel, strong public-private collaboration, and sustainable financing mechanisms. The NiPHaST program, with its multi-billion-dollar investment and long-term vision, reflects Nigeria’s growing commitment to modernizing its agricultural sector and addressing structural inefficiencies in the food supply chain. If successful, the initiative could mark a turning point in curbing post-harvest losses and securing a more resilient food system for the nation.