The Federal Government says Nigeria needs at least 25 million tonnes of maize annually to meet demand and bolster food security.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, revealed this on Friday in Abuja during a Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders’ Engagement meeting.
Abdullahi emphasised the government’s drive to increase domestic maize production and cut food imports to secure the national supply.
“Our focus is expanding production so that affordable, nutritious food reaches every Nigerian,” he said.
He pointed out that government interventions are already affecting markets, citing a nationwide drop in food prices.
“Our efforts are paying off. Prices of major food commodities have dropped by about 50 per cent nationwide.
These efforts reflect our commitment to improving food security and citizens’ well-being. We are addressing high input costs to sustain an affordable food supply,” Abdullahi said.
He said strategic investment in agricultural value chains was positioning Nigeria in the global market.
“We have prioritised rice, maize, and wheat value chains, creating opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers and stakeholders,” he said.
Abdullahi said the ministry is aligning policies with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to achieve food sovereignty.
“The goal is clear: Nigeria must produce what it consumes and consume what it produces,” he said.
According to him, the ministry is implementing reforms to transform the nation’s agricultural landscape and expand production of priority crops.
He called on stakeholders to work together with state agriculture ministries to rapidly boost national productivity.
“Together we can transform Nigeria’s food system and ensure sustainable agricultural growth for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Abdullahi said.
He called the meeting part of the ministry’s commitment to transparency and inclusive collaboration.
“This platform highlights the importance of stakeholder engagement for sound policies and effective implementation,” he said.
Abdullahi added that the initiative would strengthen collaboration to ensure that food remains available, accessible, and affordable nationwide.
The meeting included media, civil society, farmers’ groups, agro-allied businesses, development partners, donor agencies, and state institutions.
