“Food Is Now Cheaper in Nigeria” — Kyari Says Prices Crash by 50%

By Queen Kunde

Millions of Nigerians struggling to put food on the table may soon breathe a little easier.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, says the prices of essential food items across the country have dropped by about 50 percent, declaring that “food is now cheaper in Nigeria.”

Kyari made the announcement during a citizens and stakeholders’ engagement retreat on agricultural transformation held in Abuja, where he said the drop in food prices is the result of deliberate efforts by the government to boost local food production.

According to him, improving food availability has been a top priority since the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into power.

“Our focus has been to increase local production and reduce dependence on imports so that affordable and nutritious food can reach every Nigerian,” the minister said.

He noted that in the past, rising food prices placed basic staples beyond the reach of many families, but the situation is now beginning to change as government interventions in agriculture start to yield results.

Kyari explained that the government has invested heavily in strengthening major agricultural value chains including rice, maize, wheat, cassava, cocoa, cotton, tomatoes and oil palm. These efforts, he said, are opening new opportunities for millions of farmers across the country.

In the last two years alone, the Federal Government distributed over 1.9 million bags of fertilizer to nearly one million farmers, while thousands of farmers have also received improved seeds, pest-control kits and training aimed at increasing productivity.

“These interventions are helping farmers move from subsistence farming to profitable agribusiness,” Kyari said.

Government has also partnered with countries such as Russia, Turkiye, India and Canada to improve fertilizer production and agricultural technology, while cracking down on the circulation of fake fertilizers in local markets.

Agricultural performance surveys conducted in 2025 also showed increased production in key crops such as rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam and cassava compared to the previous year — a development officials say is strengthening the nation’s food supply.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the engagement reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to transparency and keeping citizens informed about government policies.

Kyari, however, acknowledged that challenges remain in the sector and called on farmers, private investors and other stakeholders to work together to sustain the gains.

“Our efforts are yielding results,” he said. “But achieving lasting food security requires collective action. Together, we must continue to build a stronger agricultural sector for Nigeria.”

For many Nigerian households, the hope is simple: that cheaper food at the market will soon become a daily reality.