Nigeria is poised to significantly reduce its reliance on food imports, as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, unveiled an ambitious strategy to enhance domestic agricultural production and strengthen food security.
During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, marking the nation’s 64th Independence Day, Edun asserted that the time has come to end heavy food importation, framing this transition as a key component of the government’s economic recovery plan.
“We should not be importing food,” Edun declared, emphasizing the importance of achieving self-sufficiency for Nigeria’s future. The government is dedicated to assisting small-scale farmers by supplying essential resources, such as seeds and fertilizers, through initiatives like the Nigerian Agricultural Growth Scheme.
This support aims to boost both wet and dry season harvests, thereby decreasing the need for imports in the short term while enhancing productivity in the long run.
In the immediate term, the government has authorized maize and wheat imports to stabilize the food market. However, Edun underscored the need to balance these imports with ongoing domestic production efforts. “It is critical that we do not disrupt domestic food production. We must avoid flooding the market with imports that could harm local farming,” he cautioned.
He emphasized that moving away from food imports is not just an economic imperative but also a vital step towards achieving Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in food. “This is not where we should be,” he said, noting that the new strategy aims to guide Nigeria towards economic independence and improved food security.
Edun’s comments come at a time when Nigeria faces rising food prices and a struggling agricultural sector that lags behind global yield standards. The government aims to more than double agricultural productivity by improving local seedlings and adopting better farming practices.
This agricultural push is part of a broader economic reform agenda as the country grapples with the consequences of recent fuel subsidy removals.
Meanwhile, Abubakar Bagudu, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and National Planning, pointed out the challenges posed by the country’s growing population. He noted that Nigeria’s population has surged from 119 million in 1999 to 230 million today, significantly increasing the demand for infrastructure, education, and healthcare services.
“There are 230 million of us. Not surprisingly, the demand for government services, infrastructure, education financing, and health services has grown significantly,” Bagudu stated. He added, “While our population has grown fivefold, our economy has not expanded at a similar rate.”
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