Nigeria: Five key lessons from Tinubu’s food policies

According to the government, these measures will be “implemented over the next 180 days.”

President Bola Tinubu The government on Monday unveiled some proactive measures to tackle soaring food prices in the country.

According to a statement by Mr Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the measures will be “implemented over the next 180 days”.

Mr Onanuga, quoting Agriculture Minister Abba Kyari, said Mr Tinubu had approved a “150-day duty-free import window for food items” including “maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas.”

In recent times, Nigerians have had to grapple with rising food prices since the president announced the removal of petrol subsidies last year and also floated the naira so that the value of the Nigerian currency could be determined by market forces.

The government, however, said on Monday that it could not allow this situation to continue.

Mr Kyari said while there are ongoing agricultural initiatives, programmes and projects under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, state governments also have their own.

“We must address the growing availability crisis. While government continues to encourage agricultural production on a sustainable and profitable basis for farmers, the time lag between cultivation and harvest makes it inevitable for government to put in place interim measures that will provide considerable relief to Nigerians,” Mr. Kyari said.

Below are some of the key highlights of this policy.

Duty-free import of food products

In recent times, many Nigerians have been calling on Mr Tinubu to allow massive importation of food items to cushion the rising food prices, but others have opposed it, saying it would affect local production of the commodities.

On Monday, Mr Tinubu approved a “150-day duty-free import window for food products”.

“A 150-day duty-free import period for food products. Suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes on the importation of certain food products (via land and sea borders). These products include maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpea.”

Mr Kyari explained that under the agreement, imported food items will be subject to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).

“I am aware that some good citizens may be concerned about the quality of potentially imported food products due to growing concerns about the genetic composition of foods. I am happy to reiterate that the government’s position exemplifies standards that would not compromise the safety of various food products intended for consumption,” Mr. Kyari was quoted as saying in the statement.

In his statement, Mr Onanuga said not only will the government now allow duty-free imports for the private sector for 150 days, but the Federal Government “will import 250,000 tonnes of wheat and 250,000 tonnes of maize. The imported food products in their semi-processed state will target supplies to small-scale processors and millers across the country.”

Collaborate with stakeholders

He said the government would engage relevant parties to set a guaranteed minimum price (GMP) and dispose of surpluses of various food products to replenish the national strategic food reserve, while noting that it will continue to increase production for the 2024/2025 agricultural cycle.

Mr Kyari noted that the government will continue to support smallholder farmers during the ongoing rainy season through existing government initiatives.

Accelerating dry season agriculture

The government also announced that it would work to strengthen and accelerate dry season agriculture across the country, embark on aggressive agricultural mechanization and development to reduce drudgery, reduce production costs, boost productivity, and collaborate with sub-national governments to identify irrigable land and increase cultivated land.

Mr Kyari added that the government will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under the River Basin Authority across the federation.

And to develop a strategic commitment for young people and women across the federation for the immediate cultivation in greenhouses of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and peppers in order to increase the volume of production, stabilize prices and address food shortages.