The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on Friday declared that the federal government’s efforts to contain food inflation have started to pay off, adding that prices of essential food commodities had dropped by 50 per cent nationwide.
This, he said, was in contrast to previous years when food prices skyrocketed way beyond what most Nigerians could afford.
The minister spoke at the 2026 ministerial stakeholders’ engagement retreat on agricultural transformation in Abuja, adding that the government’s efforts had also attracted millions of dollars in investments across various agribusiness ventures, injecting much-needed capital into the sector and stimulating economic growth.
The minister stated that, “This support has not only boosted agricultural productivity but also created jobs, increased incomes, and enhanced the overall competitiveness of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector, paving the way for a more prosperous and sustainable agricultural future.
“These efforts reflect our commitment to improving food security and the overall well-being of citizens. We are working to sustain this trend by addressing high input costs to ensure food remains accessible and affordable.”
This came as stakeholders urged the federal government to boost current funding to the sector more than it spends on security, noting that when jobs are created through agriculture, it will naturally reduce insecurity across the country.
Kyari, however, noted that by prioritising agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, the government’s efforts are yielding results.
He stated that while challenges persist, the federal government continued to work tirelessly to overcome them, stressing however, that achieving these goals required a collective effort, sustained energy, partnership, and alignment of our initiatives and resources.
Kyari said, “We will continue to collaborate with stakeholders, leveraging resources and expertise to drive growth and transformation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Together, let us build on our achievements and tackle the challenges ahead.
“Our strategic focus on developing key value chains is positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global agricultural market. We have prioritised and developed the rice, maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, yam, cocoa, kenaf, cowpea, cassava, soybeans, cotton, onion, tomato, and oil palm value chains, thereby creating opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders.
“By enhancing their productivity, we have helped these farmers to transition from subsistence farming to thriving agribusinesses, contributing to national food security, employment generation, and economic growth.”
The minister further noted that in the last two years, the federal government had boosted agricultural productivity and food security through various initiatives, including the distribution of over 1.9 million bags of fertilisers to nearly one million farmers, promoting sustainable soil management with 12,000 liters of organic fertilizers, and strengthening regulatory frameworks.
“Key achievements from 2024–2025 include constructing approximately 170km of asphalt roads and 57km of earth and surface roads, boosting connectivity and market access.
“Additionally, 296 motorized and solar-powered boreholes have been provided, alongside water treatment plants, to improve access to clean water. The installation of 3,596 solar street lights has enhanced security and mobility, while 69 rural housing and market facilities have been built to support economic activities, reduce poverty, and improve the quality of life for rural communities.”
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