By DAYO ADESULU
ABUJA, Nigeria– In a significant move to bolster its economy, Nigeria is set to drastically reduce its reliance on food imports, as announced by Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, coinciding with the country’s 64th Independence Day, Edun emphasized that the era of heavy food importation must come to an end, marking this shift as a fundamental component of the government’s economic recovery strategy.
“We should not be importing food,” Edun asserted, highlighting the importance of self-sufficiency for Nigeria’s future. The government plans to support small-scale farmers by providing essential inputs such as seeds and fertilizers through initiatives like the Nigerian Agricultural Growth Scheme. This support aims to enhance harvests in both the wet and dry seasons, thereby reducing short-term import needs while boosting long-term productivity.
In the immediate term, the government has authorized imports of maize and wheat to stabilize the food market. However, Edun cautioned against disrupting domestic food production, stressing that an influx of imports could undermine local farming efforts. “It is critical that we do not disrupt domestic production of food,” he warned, reinforcing the importance of balancing imports with local agricultural output.
Edun’s statements come at a time when Nigeria faces escalating food prices and a struggling agricultural sector, which currently yields significantly lower outputs than global standards. The government aims to more than double agricultural productivity by introducing improved local seedlings and better farming practices as part of a broader economic overhaul, especially in light of the recent removal of fuel subsidies.
Additionally, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, underscored the challenges posed by the nation’s rapidly growing population, which has surged from 119 million in 1999 to 230 million today. He noted that this population increase has led to heightened demands for government services, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. “While our population has been growing fivefold, our economy has not expanded as quickly,” Bagudu stated.
As Nigeria navigates these challenges, the government’s commitment to enhancing agricultural production and achieving food security remains paramount.
