The Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is actively working to mitigate the high cost of food prices. The Minister said this Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Food inflation in Nigeria has reached alarming levels, with data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing that the annual food inflation rate stands at over 40%. This has pushed the prices of essential commodities beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians. The Federal Government has acknowledged the food insecurity in the country and has assured Nigerians that the situation is being addressed.
Abdullahi emphasized that agriculture has a time frame and that the current production will only translate to food after three months. He noted that the country has traditionally relied more on rainy-season farming but has recently started focusing on dry-season agriculture.
The minister highlighted that the ministry is addressing the issue of dry-season agriculture, which will help mitigate the current food inflation. Despite these efforts, the situation is expected to continue until the crops from the current production cycle are ready for consumption.
Key Points:
- Food Inflation Rate: Over 40% according to NBS data.
- Government Response: The Federal Government has launched several programs to reduce food prices.
- Agricultural Production: The rainy season is currently underway, with significant cropping ongoing. This production will translate to food after three months.
- Dry Season Agriculture: The ministry is focusing on dry season agriculture to address food insecurity.