The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says prices of some essential food commodities have fallen by as much as 50 per cent compared with their levels before 2023.
Kyari made the claim on Monday in Maiduguri while speaking at the opening of a Community of Practice Meeting involving commissioners responsible for agriculture, health, environment and rural development from across Nigeria.
The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with the Borno State Government, with support from the German government.
The summit, themed “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria,” focused on strengthening Nigeria’s food production and food security.
Kyari said the Federal Government’s goal was to increase food production, make food more affordable, strengthen rural economies and build a more resilient food system.
“We have seen the reduction of up to 50 per cent in prices of some essential food commodities, alongside expanded input delivery, investment in rural infrastructure, and support to smallholder farmers,” he said.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had made food security a major priority, urging Nigerians to assess the government’s performance using available data rather than politicising 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 said.
He said the Maiduguri meeting would also examine the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2035.
According to him, the Kampala framework covers sustainable food production, investment, financing, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, climate resilience and improved governance.
Kyari added that Nigeria had already developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to implement its commitments under the framework.