In a bid to address the high cost of food in Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced that imported food items will be subject to recommended retail prices over the next 150 days. This move aims to alleviate the country’s ongoing food crisis.
This announcement comes shortly after the government suspended import duties and taxes on essential food items such as rice and wheat. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, shared this update on his X (formerly Twitter) account, emphasizing that these measures are part of a broader strategy to reduce food prices.
Kyari stated, “Our administration has unveiled a series of strategic measures aimed at addressing the high food prices currently affecting our nation. These measures will be implemented over the next 180 days, including a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities. It also includes suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders, including maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.”
He further assured that imported food items would adhere to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) to ensure affordability. He addressed concerns about the quality of these imports, promising that all standards would be maintained to ensure safety and quality.
Kyari also announced that the government would import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize. These semi-processed commodities will be distributed to small-scale processors and millers across the country. Additionally, there will be engagement with relevant stakeholders to set a General Market Price (GMP) and purchase surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve, as well as ramp up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle.
Over the next 14 days, the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT) will collaborate with respective agencies to finalize the implementation frameworks for this new policy. Kyari emphasized the importance of making information publicly available to ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders across the country.
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has raised concerns about the government’s accessibility. In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ndume criticized what he described as the government’s closed-door policy, which he claimed prevents lawmakers and even some cabinet ministers from advising President Bola Tinubu.
Ndume warned that the food crisis could lead to widespread hunger and malnutrition, particularly affecting children in the North-West. Citing a UN report, he highlighted that 82 million Nigerians could face hunger within the next five years if the situation does not improve.
“The previous government had food banks for emergency needs, but such food banks are no more. This is a matter of serious concern, and something should be done quickly about it,” Ndume stressed.
He expressed frustration over the difficulty of meeting with the President to discuss these critical issues privately, alleging that even some ministers struggle to gain access.
