The Federal Government says prices of some essential food commodities have fallen by as much as 50 per cent as it intensifies efforts to improve food security and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this on Monday in Maiduguri while declaring open a Community of Practice Meeting involving Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Environment and Rural Development in Borno State.
The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government, with support from the German government, under the theme, “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria.”
Government outlines food-security measures
Kyari said the Federal Government had placed food security at the centre of its economic agenda, with measures aimed at increasing domestic production, improving affordability and strengthening rural economies.
According to the minister, the government has expanded support for smallholder farmers, rural infrastructure and agricultural inputs while pursuing policies designed to improve productivity across the sector.
He said early procurement under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative had generated ₦61.58 billion in savings, while Nigeria was working towards a 1.1 million-metric-tonne fertiliser programme for 2026.
The minister also highlighted the National Agricultural Mechanisation Policy and National Agricultural Mechanisation Investment Strategy, including plans for a mega tractor assembly plant with an annual production capacity of between 2,000 and 4,000 tractors.
Germany backs agrifood transformation
The Maiduguri meeting forms part of broader efforts to strengthen coordination between federal and state authorities on food production, nutrition, agricultural investment, financing, trade and rural resilience.
Germany is supporting the initiative as Nigeria seeks to improve the resilience of its food system and strengthen cooperation across government levels.
Kyari said the government was also expanding all-season agricultural production through irrigation, improved seeds and support for agricultural research institutions, while Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones are expected to help connect farmers with processors and markets.
The government’s claim of a reduction of up to 50 per cent applies to some essential commodities, rather than indicating that food prices have fallen uniformly nationwide.