Food Insecurity: Farmers lament N2.2trn agro-imports policy undermining local production

*Several Nigerian farmers, rice millers, and other stakeholders in the food production and distribution space fault the Federal Government’s policies on agro-imports, lamenting the measures are undermining local production, and worsening food insecurity in the country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Nigerian farmers, rice millers, and other stakeholders in the food production and distribution space have faulted the Federal Government’s policies on agro-imports into the country.

ConsumerConnect gathered the concerned stakeholders claimed such government’s policy decisions are fast undermining local production, and worsening food insecurity.

Nigeria’s agricultural import bill increased to N2.22 trillion as of second quarter (Q2) 2025, report said.

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Besides, the food industry stakeholders also criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent policy decision to reduce food prices.

President Tinubu September 11, 2025, directed a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to further crash the prices of food items and related commodities across Nigeria, according to report.

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Sabi Abdullahi, Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, affirmed this in Abuja, FCT, in his presentation at a one-day capacity-building workshop for reporters covering the Nigerian Senate.

Abdullahi reportedly said the President’s order would be enforced to further crash prices of food items by ensuring the safe passage of products through various routes across the country.

The Minister was quoted to have said: “I can say it on good authority to you that the President has given a matching order to a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it.

“On how we are going to promote the safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country.”

He stated: “We are aware, and I’m sure, as media, you are also aware, there are routes through which commodities are taken before they are delivered. “If you know the amount of money that is being spent, you can now understand why those commodities have to be expensive at the point of delivery.

“So, we are working very hard, and we are doing quite a lot. But I’ve just given you a snippet because I’m here, and I felt we should look at that.”

Farmers, rice millers, other stakeholders react

However, the Presidential directive has sparked criticism from farmers and rice millers.

These stakeholders have contended that mere pronouncements could not override market forces, or compensate for poor planning.

Speaking in the development, Kabir Ibrahim, National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, said: “The cost of food will go down if transport costs go down, but that alone is not enough.

“Our farmers are complaining that the prices are so low that they cannot buy fertiliser. The importation has dealt with our farmers.”

Issuing order without stakeholder engagement won’t work, says Dama

Reacting to the situation also, Peter Dama, Chairman of the Competitive African Rice Forum, decried the Nigerian Government’s approach, The Punch report said.

Dama said the move could alienate private operators and discourage investment in the sector of the economy.

He asserted that “the President is dealing with private organisations and companies.

“You don’t just come out and give an order to crash prices. It doesn’t work that way.”

The Chairman of the Competitive African Rice Forum also stated: “At best, the government should have called stakeholders in the transport and agric sectors, discussed with them, and provided subsidies.

“Pronouncements without engagement will not work.”

Dama as well lamented that persistent importation of food items, and lack of subsidies are forcing many farmers to abandon agriculture.

He further averred: “If you don’t provide inputs and only make pronouncements, farmers will quit.

“We are not in an autocratic government. Stakeholders must be carried along.”

Distribution of farm tractors yet to commence

Aside from concerns about food importation and price slash directives , stakeholders also pointed to delays in mechanisation efforts, report said.

It is recalled that the Federal Government launched 2,000 tractors to support farmers.

Several of these tractors arrived Nigeria earlier this year but distribution of these equipment to farmer beneficiaries yet to commence till this day.

Ibrahim, National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, said farmers were already growing impatient over this development.

He stated: “The tractors have not been distributed yet.

“They were launched in July, but up to now, no modalities have been given.

“We need them to support human labour with machine power.”

Report, however, indicated that an official in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, who solicited anonymity, confirmed that modalities for distribution of the imported tractors were still awaiting presidential approval.

The official reportedly noted: “We are waiting for the presidency. The minister has submitted a distribution list for approval.

“We expect to flag it off soon. But people must understand that such directives take time because they involve trade, finance, customs, and investment ministries. “A technical committee will be set up to address stakeholders’ concerns.”

Regarding concern about the purchasing power, as the government insists on crashing food prices that would take time, stakeholders maintain that weak purchasing power remains the biggest obstacle in the system.

“What we are telling the government is that it is the purchasing power of the Naira that is causing problems.

“Even if food prices fall, people don’t have the money to buy. That’s why you are not seeing any impact,” Ibrahim submitted.

Other stakeholders equally echoed Ibrahim’s sentiment, and warned that without urgent subsidies for inputs for farmers, and stronger consumer purchasing power of the Naira, Nigeria risks deepening its food insecurity.

Of N2.22trn agro-imports into Nigeria

Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data has revealed that agricultural imports stood at N1.04 trillion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, before climbing to N1.18 trillion in the second quarter (Q2).

The second quarter figure represented a 32.6 percent year-on-year increase from N893.25 billion recorded in Q2 2024, and a 14.35 percent rise from Q1 2025.

Comparatively, the value of agricultural imports in the first half of 2024 was N1.81 trillion, indicating a 22.65 percent rise within one year.

Despite this surge, food prices remain high, and farmers say government interventions have created distortions that leave both producers and consumers worse off, report said.

The sharp rise in agro-imports followed the Federal Government’s introduction of a 180-day duty-free window July 2024, which allowed licensed millers and firms with backward integration programmes to import staple foods, such as maize, husked brown rice, wheat, beans, and millet without paying duties, tariffs, or related taxes.

President Tinubu administration’s policy was designed as a stopgap measure against worsening food inflation, and ended December 2024.

Though the Nigerian Government said the measure aimed to crash food prices in the economy, stakeholders have insisted that the initiative rather failed to deliver the expected relief for consumers.

Ibrahim contended that the waiver policy only triggered massive importation of food items into the country without addressing Nigerians’ weakened purchasing power of the currency.

Ibrahim lamented: “There must be a rise in imports because there was a 180-day duty-free window. “People rushed to import food, but Nigerians have no money to buy it.

“Even though prices are going down, purchasing power is low, and that is the reality.”

According to him, the unsold food glut now affects both government silos and private warehouses across Nigeria.

“Government itself is left with food in silos. They bought rice and paddies, but are they selling? Unless we fix systemic issues in customs, transport, and governance, we cannot get results,” averred.

And the fallout from duty-free importation has hit local farmers hard, according to report.

Ibrahim noted that maize, which once sold for about N60,000 per tonne before the duty-free policy, now goes for about N30,000, leaving farmers unable to recover input costs.

“Our farmers are not happy; they are not even back to their farms now because maize prices have collapsed.

“They cannot buy fertiliser, and the effect is adverse,” he stated.

Going forward, Dama cautioned, and said: “Yes, reducing transport costs will bring some relief.

“But the government must also engage rice millers, farmers, and private investors.

“Import licences should not replace real investment in local production. If we continue like this, we will never be food-secure.”

Asonye added that small-scale farmers, especially women, face the greatest risks. “If farmers cannot break even, they will abandon production or resort to strikes. That will deepen the food crisis.”

Unless subsidies, infrastructure support, and stakeholder consultations become central to government policy, experts warn that Nigeria’s reliance on imports will continue to rise—at the expense of local production and long-term food security.

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