KYARI: PRICES OF SOME ESSENTIAL FOOD COMMODITIES HAVE FALLEN BY UP TO 50%

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 across Nigeria, pointing to increased production, agricultural inputs and investment in rural infrastructure as factors behind the reduction.

Kyari made the claim on Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while declaring open a Community of Practice Meeting involving commissioners responsible for agriculture, health, environment and rural development.

He said the meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government, was part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s food system.

KYARI: SOME COMMODITIES HAVE DROPPED BY UP TO 50 PER CENT

According to the minister, the country has recorded significant reductions in the prices of some essential commodities when compared with their levels before 2023.

Kyari specifically challenged Nigerians to compare the prices of major staples such as rice and maize with their prices in 2023. He said the government had seen reductions of up to 50 per cent in some essential food commodities, alongside expanded delivery of farm inputs, investment in rural infrastructure and support for smallholder farmers.

The minister said the Federal Government’s responsibility was not merely to increase agricultural output but also to translate production into greater affordability, stronger rural economies and a more resilient food system.

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FOOD SECURITY AT CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT AGENDA

Kyari linked the reported reduction to President Bola Tinubu’s emphasis on food security. The government has in recent years promoted measures aimed at increasing domestic production, supporting farmers with inputs and improving agricultural value chains.

Kyari argued that increased production and better support for farmers would ultimately have implications for food availability and affordability.

However, the minister’s statement was specifically that prices of some essential commodities had fallen by up to 50 per cent. It does not mean every food item across Nigeria has declined by 50 per cent.

Food prices also vary significantly between states, markets, seasons and commodities.

AGRICULTURE AND NIGERIA’S WIDER FOOD SYSTEM

The Maiduguri meeting also considered the Kampala Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme Declaration and its strategy for 2026 to 2035.

Kyari said the framework takes a wider agrifood systems approach covering sustainable production, investment, finance, food and nutrition security, trade, inclusion, resilience and governance. He stressed that Nigeria’s agricultural decisions have implications beyond the country’s borders because of its size and importance to regional food markets.

WHAT THE CLAIM MEANS FOR NIGERIANS

The central test of the minister’s claim remains what consumers experience in markets. A reduction in farm-gate or wholesale prices does not automatically translate into an equal reduction in what consumers pay, particularly where transportation, storage, processing, insecurity, market charges and other costs remain high.

For households, the more meaningful measure of food-price improvement will therefore be sustained affordability across major staples rather than isolated reductions in selected commodities.

Kyari’s statement nevertheless places the government’s food-security programme under a measurable public test: whether higher production and agricultural interventions can translate into cheaper and more accessible food for Nigerians over time, ValidViewNetwork reports.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of food-security policy will be judged not only by production figures but by whether ordinary households can consistently afford nutritious food.