The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said that the prices of some essential food commodities have dropped by as much as 50 per cent across Nigeria.
Kyari made the disclosure on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while declaring open the Community of Practice Meeting of Commissioners for Agriculture, Health, Environment and Rural Development.
The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government, with support from the German government. It was held under the theme, “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria.”
Speaking at the event, the minister said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had placed food security at the centre of its national agenda.
According to Kyari, the government’s responsibility is not only to increase food production but also to make food more affordable, strengthen rural economies and build a more resilient food system capable of meeting the needs of Nigerians.
He said the government had recorded a significant reduction in the prices of some essential food commodities, alongside increased delivery of agricultural inputs, investment in rural infrastructure and support for smallholder farmers.
“Our responsibility is to translate that mandate into increased production, greater affordability, stronger rural economies and a more resilient food system,” Kyari said.
The minister added that the reduction in food prices was being supported by measures aimed at improving agricultural production and strengthening the capacity of farmers across the country.
He noted that the prices of several food items had significantly declined compared with their levels before 2023, attributing the development to ongoing interventions in the agricultural sector.
Kyari further stressed the importance of collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and development partners in addressing challenges affecting food production and availability.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to policies and programmes aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, supporting smallholder farmers and making food more accessible and affordable to Nigerians.