Nigeria Requires 25 Million Metric Tons of Maize Every Year, According to Federal Government

Nigeria's annual maize requirements stand at a minimum of 25 million tonnes to satisfy national demand and bolster food security, according to the Federal Government.

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This revelation was made by Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, on Friday in Abuja during a Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders’ Engagement meeting.

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The government has ramped up efforts to meet this demand by increasing local production and decreasing reliance on imported food, with Abdullahi stating that the focus is on expanding local production to make nutritious food accessible to all Nigerians.

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He noted that current interventions are already impacting market trends, with prices of essential food commodities dropping nationwide, and added that the government's efforts are yielding results, as prices of major food commodities have decreased by about 50 per cent across the country.

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Abdullahi attributed this development to the government's commitment to enhancing food security and citizens' well-being, and also mentioned that the government is addressing high input costs to maintain an affordable food supply.

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The minister highlighted that strategic investments in agricultural value chains are positioning Nigeria to become a significant player in the global agricultural market, with a focus on rice, maize, and wheat value chains, which are creating opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders.

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According to Abdullahi, the ministry is aligning its policies with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to achieve food sovereignty, with the goal of Nigeria producing what it consumes and consuming what it produces.

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The ministry is implementing reforms to transform the nation's agricultural landscape and expand production across priority crops, and Abdullahi urged stakeholders to collaborate with state agriculture ministries to accelerate productivity nationwide.

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He emphasized the importance of collective effort, stating that by working together, Nigeria's food system can be transformed to ensure sustainable agricultural growth for the benefit of all Nigerians.

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Abdullahi described the engagement meeting as a demonstration of the ministry's commitment to transparency, open governance, and inclusive collaboration, and noted that the platform underscores the significance of stakeholder engagement in shaping sound policies and ensuring effective implementation.

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The meeting, which featured representatives from various sectors, including the media, civil society organisations, farmers' groups, and government institutions, aims to strengthen collaboration to ensure that food remains available, accessible, and affordable across the country.