The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has said the prices of some essential food commodities have fallen by as much as 50 per cent compared with their levels in 2023.
Kyari made the claim on Monday in Maiduguri while speaking at the opening of a Community of Practice Meeting involving commissioners responsible for agriculture, health, environment and rural development from across Nigeria.
The meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in partnership with the Borno State Government, with support from the German government, focused on strengthening food production and improving food security in Nigeria.
Kyari said the Federal Government’s objective was to increase food production, make food more affordable, strengthen rural economies and build a more resilient food system.
According to him, the reduction in prices of some commodities had occurred alongside increased delivery of agricultural inputs, investment in rural infrastructure and support for smallholder farmers.
He urged Nigerians to assess the government’s performance using available data, rather than politicising the rising cost of living. Kyari specifically asked Nigerians to compare the prices of commodities such as rice and maize in 2023 with their current prices.
The minister also said the meeting would examine the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Declaration and its 2026–2035 Strategy and Action Plan, which covers food production, investment, financing, nutrition, trade, inclusion, climate resilience and governance.
He added that Nigeria had developed and validated a 10-year National Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan to fulfil its commitments under the framework.
