Abuja:The Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. John Uwajumogu, has announced a commitment to making bread more affordable in Nigeria by boosting local wheat production. This initiative is part of Project WHEAT-NESS, a program focused on optimizing the wheat-based consumer foods value chain to enhance cost competitiveness.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Uwajumogu highlighted the economic impact of wheat, noting its extensive use in products from bread to meat pies, thereby benefiting farmers, millers, bakers, transporters, and traders. He explained that Nigeria’s reliance on imported wheat leaves the market vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions, affecting local bread prices.
Uwajumogu pointed out that northern farmers have demonstrated significant yield improvements with proper seeds and support. Project WHEAT-NESS aims to bridge the integration gap by ensuring coordination across various sectors, reducing costs in energy, storage, and logistics, and tracking results.
He also mentioned plans to monitor wheat output, loaf prices, and job creation, with a focus on providing affordable finance, reliable power, and quality inputs to help neighborhood bakeries expand, benefiting primarily young people and women.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, supported the initiative, emphasizing its role in connecting agriculture, manufacturing, finance, and distribution to reduce unnecessary imports. Represented by Mr. Abubakar Othman, Oyedele referred to National Bureau of Statistics data showing a 4.43 percent year-on-year GDP growth in Q2 2026, with manufacturing rising by 3.24 percent.
The USDA estimates Nigeria’s 2026/2027 wheat imports at 5.6 million metric tonnes compared to local output of 120,000 tonnes, indicating a significant gap between production and demand. The minister stressed the importance of building a reliable local supply rather than cutting imports without viable alternatives, with about 70 percent of wheat flour used in bread production. For lasting affordability, increased productivity, efficient supply chains, and enhanced competition are crucial. Monitoring will include yield, import demand share, production costs, private investment, and job creation.