Improved Local Production Behind Falling Food Prices — Minister
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, says the recent decline in food prices across Nigeria is the result of increased local production, robust government interventions, and the commencement of the harvest season.
Speaking during a press briefing to mark World Food Day in Abuja on Thursday, Sabi explained that the ongoing price reduction reflects the success of large-scale agricultural initiatives launched since 2023 under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) programme.
According to him, the Federal Government’s strategic investments in key food commodities have significantly boosted output and stabilised market supply.
“From 2023, we embarked on massive production through the NAGS Agro-Pocket programme. We injected almost 500,000 metric tonnes or more of wheat, including maize, cassava, and other commodities we promoted. This ramped-up production is what’s responsible for the drop in food prices,” the minister said.
Sabi noted that the government’s focus on empowering smallholder farmers through input support, mechanisation, and access to improved seedlings has strengthened the country’s food value chain. He added that as the harvest season progresses, Nigerians should expect further moderation in food prices.
While addressing concerns over speculation that the Federal Government was planning to import large quantities of food to stabilise prices, the minister clarified that such claims were inaccurate.
“We are not importing food. Our goal is to support local production to make Nigeria self-sufficient and food secure,” he said.
Sabi reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving sustainable food security through consistent policy implementation, research-driven innovation, and partnerships with the private sector.
He also commended Nigerian farmers for their resilience amid economic challenges, emphasising that their efforts remain vital to the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
