Smuggling, reason for food scarcity in Nigeria – Agric minister

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said part of the factors affecting food availability in the country is the smuggling of food out of Nigeria to other neighboring countries.

The minister stated this on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, while addressing members of the House of Representatives during the sectoral debate on Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja.

Present at the sectorial debate are the Minister of State (Agriculture and Food Security), Sabi Abdullahi, and Comptroller General, of Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, among top government officials.

According to him, the federal government has put measures in place to address the current food scarcity in the country adding that though many factors were responsible for the food scarcity.

“We have seen smuggling of foodstuff to other neighbouring countries. This has affected the availability of food items in the country,” the minister said.

He also said that one of the measures put in place by the federal government is the approval for the distribution of 42,000 assorted grains across the country.

He said that the ECOWAS’ technical rotation of 5000 metric tonnes of assorted grains will also be distributed across the country.

According to Kyari, the federal government has also signed an MOU with an American company to bring 10,000 tractors into the country in 5 years to assist farmers

“42,000 metric tonnes of grains have been approved to be distributed across the country. ECOWAS’ technical rotation, 5000 metric tonnes of assorted grains.

“We have to make agriculture business oriented not a means of survival.

Mechanisation, Nigeria has less than 5000 tractors working in a country that needs 72000, we have therefore signed an MoU with an American company to bring 10,000 tractors in 5 years, 2000 to arrive before the onset of wet season.

Speaking further on the measures taken so far by the FG, the minister said a Green Imperative (a $1 billion dollar arrangement) that will establish a one-stop shop service center in all the 774 LGAs is been out in place, adding that another initiative will also provide 1000 centers across Nigeria.

He said NAICO will be capitalized to support farmer have access to tractors and other inputs.

Speaking also on the challenges to be critically looked into, he said mechanization is a huge set back, adding that the country needs over 72,000

Other challenges he said were cross boarder control, storage facilities, rural roads, access to land, research and development, stressing that Nigeria’s research institutions need a lot of funding.

“Livestock is another huge investment we need to harness. We are Collaborating with large scale investors in the agricultural field. They have huge impact on our agricultural progression.

“Research Institutions are poorly funded and cannot make impact in the agricultural sector by producing improved seeds for farming.

He added that a lot of attention is been given to crop production while livestock production is neglected.

“National Livestock Reform master plan as the President will soon form a committee on it. Collaboration with large scale farmers like Wacor, Olamijuwonlo, Flour Mill and others.

He further explained that Lack/high cost of fertilisers, threatening dry season farming. We are liaising with major producers like Dangote and others.

“Gas, the main feedstock for Urea production is being priced in Dollars instead of Naira. We are in talks with NNPC on the pricing to be done in Naira. 35% for local production must be reasonably priced and in Naira.

Also speaking at the debate, the Comptroller General of Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, also said that the Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the sale of seized food items to vulnerable Nigerians to address hunger across the country’

According to him, President Bola Tinubu has directed that food items produced in Nigeria and seized at the Nigerian land borders, be sold directly to vulnerable Nigerians to ease the challenge of hunger in the country.

He said, “Mr President has directed that we sell directly to needy Nigerians food items produced locally but which were seized. This is one of the ways to address hunger and food scarcity we are facing. We have started this in Lagos.

“Also, the President has also directed that imported food items seized by the Nigeria Customs Service should be sold back to the local markets for resale to Nigerians.

“Food items seized has been directed to be disposed through direct sales to Nigerians.

“We have taken lessons from what happens in Lagos and we are putting appropriate measures in place to reach out to Nigerians in other states.