Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister, Senator Abubakar Kyari, says food prices are already declining across several commodities — evidence, he insists, that government interventions are beginning to ease pressure on households as the country pushes toward full food sovereignty. He made the declaration at the opening of the 47th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security in Kaduna.
Kyari outlined major reforms driving the progress, including the expansion of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro-Pocket, a nationwide push for all-year wheat production, and the introduction of rainfed wheat cultivation in Plateau, Taraba and Cross River. He said these innovations are shifting Nigeria closer to meeting national food demand locally.
The Minister also unveiled new steps to curb post-harvest losses estimated at over 10 billion dollars annually through the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme, which strengthens storage and cold-chain infrastructure nationwide. Upgrades to strategic grain reserve silos across eight states are also underway to stabilise prices and support emergency interventions.
Minister of State, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, reinforced the government’s commitment to climate-smart agriculture, expanded mechanisation, recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, and gender-responsive extension services. He said all policies align with President Tinubu’s goal of building a food-secure nation where, in his words, “no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.”
