Nigeria’s agricultural import bill surged to N2.22 trillion in the first half of 2025, sparking widespread criticism from farmers, millers, and industry stakeholders who argue that the Federal Government’s policies are stifling local production and worsening food insecurity.
The development has intensified concerns about the nation’s dependence on foreign food supplies at a time when inflation and rising living costs continue to bite households.
Critics say the surge in imports reflects gaps in policy implementation, poor support for local farmers, and a mismatch between government directives and realities on the ground.
The discontent grew louder following President Bola Tinubu’s September 11 directive ordering a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to “further crash” the prices of food items across the country.
Announcing the President’s order in Abuja, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi, said the committee would enforce measures to guarantee the safe passage of food products through critical routes nationwide.
“I can say it on good authority to you that the President has given a matching order to a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it,” Abdullahi told journalists at a Senate capacity-building workshop. “On how we are going to promote the safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country.”
But many stakeholders insist that such directives fail to address the structural challenges facing Nigeria’s food system. The Rice Millers Association and other agricultural groups argue that government actions are undermining investments in local farming, thereby making the country more reliant on imports.
“Ordering prices to crash without tackling production bottlenecks is unsustainable,” one stakeholder said. “What farmers need is access to affordable inputs, security on farmlands, and infrastructure support not policies that distort the market.”
Analysts warn that if the trend continues, Nigeria’s food import bill could rise further by the end of 2025, with dire implications for foreign exchange reserves and food security.
