Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, has cautioned that the Federal Government’s decision to allow extensive food importation could devastate the country’s agricultural sector. Speaking at a retreat by the African Primates of the Anglican Church in Abuja, Adesina advised the Nigerian government to focus on increasing domestic food production and creating agricultural jobs.
On July 10, 2024, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced a suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through the country’s land and sea borders for 150 days. Kyari said this measure was intended to mitigate food inflation caused by affordability and availability issues.
Adesina, a former agriculture minister, described Nigeria’s policy to open its borders for massive food imports as a short-term solution to food price hikes and called it “depressing.” He warned that this approach could undermine the hard work and private investments made in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
“Nigeria cannot rely on the importation of food to stabilize prices. Nigeria should be producing more food to stabilize food prices while creating jobs and reducing foreign exchange spending, which will further help stabilize the naira,” Adesina stated. “Nigeria cannot import its way out of food insecurity. Nigeria must not be turned into a food import-dependent nation.”
Addressing the theme, ‘Food security and financial sustainability in Africa: The role of the Church,’ Adesina emphasized that Nigeria “must feed itself with pride,” warning that “a nation that depends on others to feed itself, is independent only in name.” He insisted that transforming agriculture is essential for Africa to eliminate poverty, stating, “Essentially, food is money. The size of the food and agriculture market in Africa will reach $1 trillion by 2030.”
Adesina noted that the clergymen gathered in Abuja represented the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, encompassing more than 40 million Anglicans across the continent.