By Sandra Kenneth
Prices of essential food commodities across Nigeria have fallen by up to 50 per cent, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced on Monday.
Kyari disclosed this in Maiduguri, Borno State, while opening the Community of Practice Meeting for Commissioners of Agriculture, Health, Environment, and Rural Development. The event, themed “Stronger Partnerships for a Food Secure Nigeria,” was organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Borno State Government, with support from the German Government.
Addressing delegates, the minister noted that President Bola Tinubu has placed food security at the heart of the administration’s national agenda.
“Our responsibility is to translate that mandate into increased production, greater affordability, stronger rural economies, and a more resilient food system,” Kyari said. “We have seen the reduction of up to 50 per cent in prices of some essential food commodities, alongside expanded input delivery, investment in rural infrastructure, and support to smallholder farmers.”
He urged stakeholders to compare current market rates with those of previous years rather than politicizing food costs.
“Let’s be honest, how much was a bag of rice and maize in 2023, and how much is it now? What is the percentage? Let us not play politics with these things,” he added.
Kyari noted that deliberations at the meeting would align with the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and its Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035).
He highlighted that Nigeria has validated a 10-Year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to implement these commitments locally, urging state authorities to focus on actionable delivery.
“States should leave this meeting clearer on how their action plans will advance the Kampala commitments and align with national priorities across rural infrastructure, extension, credit and quality inputs, labour-saving technologies, post-harvest loss reduction, and climate-resilient agriculture,” he stressed.
Speaking earlier, the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Nigeria, Dr. Karin Jansen, reiterated Germany’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through the Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies (AgSys) project.
“Our aim is simple: to strengthen existing structures and help turn national commitments into action where it matters most,” Jansen said. “Ultimately, the success of the Kampala Agenda will be measured by the results it delivers: better policies, stronger institutions, effective investments, and tangible improvements in people’s lives.”
