President Bola Tinubu has approved duty-free importation of key food items such as rice, beans, and wheat to alleviate the impact of high food prices on Nigerians.
This decision is part of measures to be implemented over the next 180 days, according to Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson.
Quoting Agriculture Minister Abba Kyari, Onanuga announced a “150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities,” which includes maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
Since the removal of petrol subsidies last year and the floating of the naira, food prices have soared, with the cost of a 50kg bag of rice rising from about N20,000 to around N70,000 in a year.
While many Nigerians have advocated for massive food importation to ease the price hikes, others argue it could negatively impact local production.
In response, the government has decided to allow duty-free imports by the private sector for 150 days and will also import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize.
These imports will be semi-processed and supplied to small-scale processors and millers nationwide.
Onanuga detailed the government’s plans as follows:
1. 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for Food Commodities:
– Suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for importing specific food commodities via land and sea borders.
– Commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
– Imported foods will have a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).
– The government ensures the safety standards of these imported food items.
2. Federal Government Imports:
– The government will import 250,000 metric tons each of wheat and maize, targeting supplies to small-scale processors and millers.
3. Stakeholder Engagement:
– Setting a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) and mopping up surplus food commodities to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve.
4. Ramp-Up Production for 2024/2025 Farming Cycle:
– Ongoing support to smallholder farmers during the current wet season through existing initiatives.
– Strengthening and accelerating dry season farming.
– Promoting agricultural mechanization to reduce drudgery, cut production costs, and boost productivity.
– Collaborating with sub-national governments to identify and cultivate irrigable lands.
– Working with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to rehabilitate and maintain irrigation facilities.
– Engaging youth and women in greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops like tomatoes and peppers.
– Expediting engagements with the Nigerian Military for rapid cultivation under the Defence Farms Scheme and encouraging other paramilitary establishments to utilize available arable lands.
5. National Livestock Transformation:
– Inaugurating the Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee to align with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
6. Nutrition Security Enhancement:
– Promoting the production of fortified food commodities.
– Scaling up the Home Garden Initiative led by the First Lady of Nigeria.
Over the next 14 days, the government will finalize implementation frameworks in collaboration with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) and the Economic Management Team (EMT).
Information will be made publicly available to ensure participation from all relevant stakeholders. The PFSCU will manage a dashboard for the President to monitor these interventions and ensure accountability.
In facing the food security challenge, President Tinubu remains committed to ensuring no Nigerian goes hungry.
The government aims to swiftly implement these policies for immediate food security while continuing to address the underlying causes for long-term sustainable and resilient food systems.
