Mass importation of food dangerous for Nigeria, says Akinwumi

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

Plans by the Federal Government to massively import food poses a great danger to the future of Agriculture in Nigeria, the President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has said.

He urged Nigeria to have a long term plan for food sustainability

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recency announced plans to import food into the country to lower skyrocketing prices. He was removed tariffs on food importation.

But Adesina said
“Nigeria’s recently announced policy to open its borders for massive food imports, just to tackle short-term food price hikes, is depressing.”

He said the policy can destroy local agriculture initiatives.

Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture Abubakar Kyari had announced suspension of duties on agriculture products mainly maize, brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas usually imported from Asia and Europe.

The scheme would last for 150days.

“Nigeria’s recently announced policy to open its borders for massive food imports, just to tackle short-term food price hikes, is depressing,” Adesina said.

He was speaking at the conference organised by African Primates of the Anglican Church.

The conferemce held in Abuja, Nigeria last Friday.

He warned that the policy could undermine all the hard work and private investments that have gone into Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

Read him “Nigeria cannot rely on the importation of food to stabilise prices. Nigeria should be producing more food to stabilise food prices while creating jobs and reducing foreign exchange spending that will further help stabilise the Naira.”

He said Nigeria cannot import its way out of food the insecurity.

He urged Nigeria not to turn into a food import-dependent nation.

He spoke on the theme ‘Food security and financial sustainability in Africa: The role of the Church.”

Adesina said Nigeria needs to feed itself with pride.

He warnd “a nation that depends on others to feed itself, is independent only in name.”

The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA)organized the event in Abuja.

CAPA represents some 40 million Anglicans across Africa.

Speaking at the event, His Grace the Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), said the summit brough African Anglican leaders to strengthen friendship and collaboration, and to share collective wisdom and experiences.

The chairman of the occassion was Emeritus Nigerian Professor of Science Education, Olugbemiro Jegede.

In his remarks, Jegede said “You have the whole of Africa represented here. Every Primate represents a region. Behind these Primates are millions and millions of Anglicans who are listening to us here.”

He said Africa accounts for nearly a third of the more than 780 million people worldwide who are hungry.

Adesina said “It is clear, therefore, that unless we transform agriculture, Africa cannot eliminate poverty,” he insisted.