‘Nigeria’s food imports growing’

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Africa converged in Abuja recently to discuss food crisis prevention and management. The occasion, which was the consultation, dialogue and validation of the application of the charter for food crisis prevention and management in the Sahel and West Africa, is to establish the real situation in Nigeria with respect […]

Stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Africa converged in Abuja recently to discuss food crisis prevention and management.
The occasion, which was the consultation, dialogue and validation of the application of the charter for food crisis prevention and management in the Sahel and West Africa, is to establish the real situation in Nigeria with respect to the implementation of the charter and facilitate the provision of food security in the country.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Architect Sonny Echono, noted that Nigeria’s annual food imports of N635 billion is worrisome.
He cited the central bank’s report, which stated that the country was the second largest importer of rice (N700 billion in 2014), sugar worth N217 billion and fish worth N97 billion.
“Nigeria’s food imports are growing at an unsustainable rate of 11% per annum, while relying on the import of expensive food on the global markets fuel domestic inflation,” he noted.
Echono said it is necessary to establish data collection centres in strategic locations around Nigeria to support evidence-based processes in food crisis prevention and management.
Ernest Aubee, Principal Programme Officer, Agriculture, of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission stated that the ECOWAS region over the last decade has witnessed various forms of food crises which are as a result of “combination of structural, cyclical, natural and human factors.”
Mr. Aubee said the ECOWAS Commission in its regional agricultural investment programme, has identified the reduction of food vulnerability and the promotion of sustainable access to food as a key mobilising programme.
The two-day consultative dialogue is a developed action plan in the sub-region aimed at preventing and managing food crisis.