In A heartfelt address that resonated with the everyday struggles of Nigerian families, the Federal Government has pledged to sustain the recent decline in food prices through targeted agricultural interventions.
The commitment was made during the 47th Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, held in Kaduna, where the theme—“Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope”—set the tone for a people-centered approach to farming and food access.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, assured Nigerians that the Tinubu-led administration is determined to ensure that “no Nigerian goes to bed with hunger.”
“Food sovereignty speaks to our control over what we grow, how we grow it, and how we consume it,” Kyari explained. “Food security, in turn, ensures that every household has access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food. Together, they define the pathway toward an inclusive and resilient agricultural system that leaves no one behind.”
Kyari noted that the country is already seeing the fruits of its efforts. “As we continue along this path, we are already beginning to witness a decline in food prices across several commodities, a reflection of ongoing targeted market interventions. While we are not yet where we want to be, this positive trend confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”
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At the heart of this progress is the National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), a flagship program developed in collaboration with the African Development Bank and state governments. “The first step toward food sovereignty is ensuring consistent, high-yield production through timely access to quality and affordable inputs,” Kyari said.
He highlighted the expansion of wheat production as a key success story. “Through this programme, wheat production has continued to expand across the country, growing from 15 participating states in the 2023/2024 dry season to broader coverage in the 2024/2025 season. The increase in scale reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance production capacity and boost self-sufficiency in key staples.”
To further stabilize food prices and ensure emergency preparedness, Kyari announced upgrades to the National Strategic Grain Reserve Silos in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Osun, Edo, and Kwara States. “By integrating these facilities into the national food distribution framework, the Ministry is building a responsive system that ensures timely interventions during shortages and supports long-term food stability,” he said.
“Nigeria is charting a new course toward all-year farming and self-sufficiency in wheat production, bringing us closer to meeting our national demand from within,” Kyari added.
Beyond production, the government is also tackling the often-overlooked issue of post-harvest losses. Kyari introduced the Nigeria Postharvest Systems Transformation Programme (NiPHaST), which aims to reduce waste and improve food quality. “The programme will dedicate 85 per cent of its interventions to the primary or community level, providing smallholder farmers with affordable, climate-smart storage solutions such as hermetic bags and metal silos,” he said. “It is aimed at cutting post-harvest losses valued at over $10 billion annually, while improving food quality, farmer incomes, and price stability nationwide.”
Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices. “We must adopt climate-smart practices that increase crop yields while building resilience,” he urged.
As the conference concluded, the message was clear: the government is not just talking about food security—it is taking action to make it a reality for every Nigerian household.