The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced that these initiatives would be rolled out over the next 180 days.
Kyari stated, “A 150-Day Duty-Free Import Window for food commodities will be established, including the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for importing specific food items via land and sea borders.”
The targeted commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas. The minister’s statement emphasized that imported food items would adhere to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP).
Additionally, the government pledged to ensure the importation of high-quality produce. “Besides private sector imports, the Federal Government will import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize,” the minister added.
These semi-processed imported food commodities will be distributed to small-scale processors and millers nationwide. The government also plans to collaborate with stakeholders to establish a Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) and purchase surplus food commodities to replenish the National Strategic Food Reserve.
In a strategic move, the government aims to involve youth and women in greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops such as tomatoes and peppers to boost production, stabilize prices, and mitigate food shortages.
Furthermore, the administration will inaugurate “The Renewed Hope National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee” on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. This committee will focus on developing and implementing livestock development policies aligned with the National Livestock Transformation Plan.
The Tinubu-led administration also intends to enhance support for the Homs Green Initiative, a project spearheaded by the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria.
“The success of these measures depends on the cooperation and collaboration of all relevant MDAs and stakeholders,” the government stated in its press release.
Nigerians have been grappling with soaring food prices, with food inflation reaching unprecedented levels in recent years.