President Bola Tinubu has approved duty-free importation of major food items such as rice, beans and wheat, to cushion the impact of high food prices that Nigerians have been facing since he assumed office last year.
According to a statement by Tinubu's spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the measures will be “implemented within the next 180 days.”
Mr Onanuga, quoting Agriculture Minister Abba Kyari, said President Tinubu had approved a “150-day duty-free import window for food items” including “maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas”.
Nigerians have struggled with high food prices since the president announced the removal of gasoline subsidies last year and also floated the naira so that the value of the Nigerian currency can be determined by market forces.
The policies led to a huge increase in the prices of basic foodstuffs: the price of 50 kilos of rice rose from about 20,000 naira to about 70,000 naira in one year.
Many Nigerians had called on the president to allow massive food imports to cushion rising food prices, but others opposed it, saying it would affect local production of such goods.
In his statement, Mr. Onanuga said that not only will the government now allow duty-free importation for the private sector for 150 days, but the federal government will “import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize. The imported food products in their semi-processed state will be destined for small processors and millers across the country.”
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Read Mr. Onanuga's full statement posted on X below.
Tinubu government unveils measures to overcome high food prices
Speaking at a press conference today, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the measures would be implemented over the next 180 days:
1. A 150-day duty-free import window for food products
a. Suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes on the importation of certain food products (across land and sea borders)
b. These products include corn, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas.
c. Under this agreement, imported food products will be subject to a recommended retail price (RRP).
(I am aware that some good citizens may be concerned about the quality of the food products intended to be imported in relation to current concerns around the genetic composition of foods.) I am pleased to reiterate that the Government's position exemplifies standards that would not compromise the safety of various foods for consumption.
2. In addition to private sector imports, the Federal Government will import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of corn. The imported food products in semi-processed form will be destined for small processors and millers throughout the country.
3. Engage relevant stakeholders to establish a guaranteed minimum price (GMP) and absorb surplus of various food commodities to replenish the National Strategic Food Reserve.
4. Continuation of increased production for the 2024/2025 agricultural cycle.
a. sustained support to smallholder farmers in the current rainy season through existing government initiatives.
b. Strengthen and accelerate dry season agriculture throughout the country.
c. undertake aggressive mechanization and agricultural development to reduce heavy labor, lower production costs, and increase productivity.
d. collaborate with subnational levels to identify irrigable land and increase cultivated land.
(e) work closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities under the responsibility of river basin authorities throughout the federation.
f. development of a strategic commitment for youth and women across the federation for immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and peppers to increase production volume, stabilise prices and address food shortages.
g. accelerate ongoing engagements with the Nigerian Army to rapidly cultivate arable land under the Defence Farms Scheme, while encouraging other paramilitary establishments to bring available and secured arable land into cultivation.
5. The National Implementation Committee for the Renewed Hope Livestock Transformation will be inaugurated on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, with the aim of developing and implementing policies that prioritize livestock development and ensure alignment with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
6. Improving nutritional security through:
a. the promotion of the production of fortified foods and
b. Provide the necessary support to scale up the Home Garden Initiative of the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Over the next 14 days, in close collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT), we will meet with the respective agencies to finalize the implementation frameworks. We will ensure that information is publicly available to facilitate the engagement of all relevant stakeholders across the country. The PFSCU will manage a dashboard for Mr. President, giving him direct visibility of these interventions and ensuring accountability.
The success of the above-mentioned measures depends on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant ministries, departments and stakeholders.
At a time when our nation is facing a serious food security challenge, let me reiterate Mr. President’s unwavering commitment to achieving food security and ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry. To this end, I can assure all Nigerians that my team and I will swiftly and diligently implement these crucial policies to ensure food security for all people in the country in the immediate term, while continuing with our long-term intervention strategies to address the underlying causes and ensure sustainable and resilient food systems in the country.