Kaduna: The Federal Government has announced its commitment to maintaining the recent decline in staple food prices across Nigeria by implementing continuous interventions in agricultural value chains. This was revealed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, during the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) held in Kaduna.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 2025 NCAFS is themed ‘Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope’. Kyari highlighted the enhancement of operations at the National Strategic Grain Reserve Silos located in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Osun, Edo, and Kwara States to boost efficiency and capacity. The initiative aims to fortify national food security and stabilize prices of essential food items. By integrating these facilities into the national food distribution framework, the government plans to create a responsive system capable of timely interventions during shortages, thereby supporting long-term food stability.
Kyari emphasized Nigeria’s progress towards all-year-round farming and achieving self-sufficiency in wheat production, which is expected to bring the country closer to meeting its national demand. Discussing the theme of the meeting, he elaborated that food sovereignty involves control over the nation’s agricultural production and consumption, while food security ensures access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food for every household. Together, these principles are seen as the pathway to an inclusive and resilient agricultural system.
The minister noted that Nigeria is already experiencing a decline in food prices for several commodities due to targeted market interventions. ‘While we are not yet where we want to be, this positive trend confirms that we are moving in the right direction,’ Kyari stated. He identified consistent, high-yield production, supported by timely access to quality and affordable inputs, as crucial steps towards achieving food sovereignty.
Kyari further mentioned that the ministry, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and state governments, has bolstered the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP). This program is Nigeria’s flagship initiative for input delivery and productivity expansion. ‘Through this programme, wheat production has continued to expand across the country from 15 participating states in the 2023/2024 dry season to broader coverage in the 2024/2025 farming season,’ he said, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enhance production capacity and boost self-sufficiency in key staples.