Food prices dropped by 50% – Minister

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced on Monday that the prices of essential food commodities in Nigeria have fallen by up to 50% since 2023. This reduction was highlighted during the opening of a Community of Practice Meeting in Maiduguri, which brought together commissioners from Nigeria's various states responsible for agriculture, health, environment, and rural development.

The meeting was organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government and with the support of the German government. The summit, themed "Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria," aimed to enhance Nigeria's food production, affordability, rural economies, and overall food system resilience.

Kyari emphasized that the Federal Government's objective is to boost food production, lower food costs, bolster rural economies, and create a more robust food system. He stressed that the government made food security a top priority under President Bola Tinubu's administration and urged Nigerians to evaluate the government's performance using factual data rather than engaging in political debates about the rising cost of living.

"Let's be honest, how much was a bag of rice and maize in 2023, and how much is it now? What is the percentage? Let us not play politics with these things," Kyari stated. The meeting also discussed the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2035. Under this framework, Nigeria has developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to fulfill its commitments.