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Subsidised Imports Pose Threat to Nigeria’s Agriculture – FG
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, has warned that subsidised imports and other global trade distortions pose a threat to Nigeria’s agricultural growth, calling for stronger collaboration among government, the private sector and development partners to build a more resilient food system.
Bagudu made the remarks at the second biannual meeting of the Agrifood Systems Working Group convened by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja, where he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system through institutional reforms, science-driven agriculture and greater private sector investment.
According to a statement issued by the ministry on Thursday, the minister said addressing domestic and global challenges confronting agriculture would require coordinated efforts from all stakeholders.
The statement read, “Bagudu further called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address domestic and global challenges affecting food systems, including rising fertiliser and energy costs driven by international conflicts, as well as trade distortions that threaten local agricultural production through subsidised imports.”
Bagudu said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to using agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, poverty reduction and food security.
He commended the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, for leading the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme 2026-2035, noting that the continental framework aligns with Nigeria’s long-term objective of building a resilient and inclusive food system.
The minister noted that although the African Union’s agricultural agenda runs from 2026 to 2035, Tinubu had set a more ambitious national target of lifting Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 through inclusive economic growth, improved livelihoods and enhanced food security.
According to him, food security occupies a central place in the country’s development agenda and is recognised in the Constitution, which places agriculture under the shared responsibility of the Federal, State and Local Governments.
Bagudu disclosed that Nigeria has more than 42 million agricultural households, largely made up of smallholder family farmers, whom he described as the backbone of the country’s food production system.
He said improving the productivity and profitability of these farming households was critical to boosting food production, reducing poverty and stimulating economic growth.
“The success of Nigeria’s food system depends on empowering our millions of farming households with the support, technology, financing, and market opportunities they need to produce more efficiently and improve their incomes,” the minister was quoted in the statement as saying.
Bagudu also highlighted reforms introduced under the Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen the agricultural value chain.
He cited the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the transfer of fisheries responsibilities to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as institutional measures designed to deliver more specialised interventions across the sector.
The minister further pointed to ongoing efforts to de-risk agriculture through increased support for the National Agricultural Development Fund and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority.
According to him, the initiatives are expected to expand access to agricultural financing, improve land development and promote climate-resilient farming practices.
Bagudu stressed that agriculture should no longer be viewed as the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, saying sustainable transformation would require contributions from science, technology, finance, research institutions, women, youths and the private sector.
He said modernising agricultural production through innovation and scientific research would improve productivity, raise profitability and attract greater investment into the sector.
Describing agriculture as largely driven by private enterprise, the minister said government policies were focused on creating an enabling environment for farmers and agribusinesses to succeed while ensuring coordinated support across all levels of government.
He also acknowledged that insecurity had affected farming activities in parts of the country but said there had been measurable progress in restoring agricultural production, particularly in the North-East.
According to him, improved harvests in previously affected communities demonstrate the resilience of Nigerian farmers despite the challenges they have faced.
Bagudu, however, said sustaining the gains would require continued collaboration among government institutions, development partners, the private sector and farming communities.
He expressed confidence that sustained stakeholder engagement and coordinated action would enable Nigeria to build a more resilient, productive and inclusive agrifood system capable of guaranteeing food security and supporting long-term economic prosperity.
Economic Confidential recently reported that Nigeria’s agriculture sector recorded a turnover of N101.46tn in 2025, up from N96.46tn in 2024, as annual real growth rose to 2.92 per cent from 1.69 per cent.
