The Federal Government says it is set to revitalize the Silos Concession Programme as part of efforts to curb post-harvest losses, strengthen food storage systems, and achieve food sovereignty.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, disclosed this during a meeting with the Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Jobson Oseodian Ewalefoh, in Abuja.
Kyari described silo storage facilities as critical to tackling Nigeria’s annual post-harvest losses, estimated at $10 billion, and to ensuring year-round availability of staple crops. He revealed that only Flour Mills of Nigeria, which operates three silo complexes, has so far met its concession obligations, while several other concessionaires have defaulted on payments and failed to put facilities into use.
The minister expressed concern over vandalization and deterioration in some facilities, including Ikorodu and Ogoja, stressing that the government would intensify oversight and enforce compliance to ensure only competent operators manage the silos.
On his part, the ICRC Director-General, Dr. Ewalefoh, said only private firms with real operational needs should retain silo concessions. He advised that abandoned facilities be retrieved by the government, noting that some concessionaires had failed to remit returns to the treasury.
The meeting concluded with the establishment of a committee to review concession agreements, assess performance, and set a clear framework for monitoring and evaluation.
This initiative, officials say, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation agenda aimed at securing food and nutrition for Nigerians.
