Five key takeaways from Tinubu’s food policy

President Bola Tinubu A series of measures aimed at tackling the country’s soaring food prices were unveiled on Monday.

Mr Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the measures “will be implemented within the next 180 days”.

Mr Onanuga, quoting Agriculture Minister Abba Kyari, said Mr Tinubu had approved a “150-day window for duty-free import of food products” including “maize, husked brown rice, wheat and beans”.

Nigerians have been grappling with high food prices in recent times since the president announced last year the removal of petrol subsidies and also freed the naira exchange rate so that the value of the Nigerian currency could be determined by market forces.

However, the government said on Monday it could not allow the situation to continue.

Mr Kyari said while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has ongoing initiatives, programmes and projects in the field of agriculture, state governments also have their own.

“We need to address the growing accessibility crisis. While the government continues to encourage farmers to produce sustainably and profitably, the lag between cultivation and harvest makes it inevitable for the government to introduce emergency measures that will bring immense relief to Nigerians,” Mr Kyari said.

The most important elements of this policy are presented below.

Duty-free import of food products

Many Nigerians have recently appealed to Mr Tinubu to allow mass import of food to cushion the rise in food prices, but others opposed it, saying it would affect local production of such goods.

On Monday, Mr Tinubu approved a “150-day duty-free window for the import of food products”.

“150-day duty-free window for food imports. Suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes on imports of certain food products (across land and sea borders). These products include corn, husked brown rice, wheat and beans.”

Mr Kyari explained that under this arrangement, imported food products will be subject to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).

“I am aware that some good citizens may be concerned about the quality of potential imported food products in the context of widespread concerns about the genetic makeup of food.) I am happy to reiterate that the government’s position is an example of standards that would not compromise the safety of various food items intended for consumption,” Mr Kyari said in a statement.

In his statement, Mr. Onanuga said that not only will the government now allow duty-free imports for the private sector for 150 days, but the federal government “will import 250,000 MT of wheat and 250,000 MT of maize. The imported food products in their semi-processed state will be delivered to small processors and millers across the country.”

Collaborate with relevant parties

He said the government will engage relevant parties to establish a guaranteed minimum price (GMP) and utilise surpluses of various food items to replenish the National Strategic Food Reserves, noting that it will continue to increase production in the 2024/2025 agricultural cycle.

Mr Kyari noted that the government will continue to provide support to smallholder farmers during the ongoing rainy season through existing government initiatives.

Acceleration of dry season agriculture

The government also announced that it would take measures to strengthen and accelerate the development of dry-season agriculture throughout the country, launch intensive work on agricultural mechanization and development to reduce laborious work, reduce production costs, increase productivity, and work with subnational entities to identify irrigated areas and increase crop areas.

Mr Kyari added that the government would work closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to upgrade and maintain irrigation infrastructure under the river basin authorities across the federation.

And to develop a strategic engagement of youth and women across the federation for the immediate greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and peppers in order to increase production volumes, stabilize prices and address food shortages.

Use empty Nigerian military land for agricultural purposes

Mr Kyari also said the government was expediting cooperation with the Nigerian military for the rapid cultivation of arable land under the Defence Farms Scheme, while encouraging other paramilitary establishments to secure available arable land for cultivation.

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Livestock Transformation Plan

Mr Kyari said the Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Commission would be inaugurated on Tuesday, tasked with developing and implementing policies that would prioritize the development of livestock and ensure compliance with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.

He said the government will enhance food security by: “promoting the production of fortified foods and providing necessary support to scale up the Home Garden Initiative of the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”