African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of weaponising hunger, destroying local production and manipulating food prices for political mileage.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, assured Nigerian farmers of access to credit facilities to enhance agricultural production nationwide.
Similarly, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing agricultural transformation and food security in Nigeria through stronger research-backed partnerships and coordinated action.
ADC also criticised the administration’s claims of increased local production of food as dishonest, stressing that many farmers, especially in the northern part of the country, had been displaced by banditry, while those that remained active could not afford the skyrocketing cost of critical inputs.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party questioned the rationale behind hoarding imported food while millions go hungry, calling it a deliberate weaponisation of poverty for political gains.
The party urged a complete overhaul of the country’s agricultural strategy, calling for policies that protect local production, promote food price stability, protect the lives of farmers, and pursue long-term food sovereignty.
“ADC is deeply concerned by the Federal Government’s misleading narrative around the so-called drop in food prices. Contrary to what is being celebrated in official circles, the reality on the ground, as confirmed by the voices of struggling farmers and families across the country, is that the Tinubu government is manipulating food prices and weaponising hunger for political gains.
“The reported drop in the prices of some food items is artificial, and a result of import waivers that have flooded the market with cheap foreign food. It is neither evidence of sound policy nor proof of increased local production. While that may offer momentary relief in food prices, it has, and will, come at the heavy cost of sabotaging local farmers who can no longer compete due to soaring input costs, especially fertilisers, and worsening insecurity.”
The party, according to the spokesman, finds it particularly strange and dishonest for the government to claim that its policies are encouraging domestic production when many farmers have been displaced by bandits, and those who remain are barely able to afford the cost of planting.
“How can production be increasing when the rural economy is under siege by bandits, and the costs of planting are now beyond the reach of the average farmer? This is propaganda. What we are witnessing is a deliberate manipulation of food prices for short-term political gain, designed to create the illusion of economic progress while citizens continue to suffer. Any present drop in price is temporary, unsustainable and driven by panic, not strategy and deliberate planning.”
THE minister gave the assurance during a public hearing in Abuja organised by the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development.
The hearing focused on three bills: the Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion into Flour Production) (Establishment) Bill, 2023, the National Food Reserve Agency and for Related Matters Bill, and the Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2024.
On the recent reported decline in food prices, Kyari emphasised that the ministry was working to reduce the high cost of farm inputs and irrigation. “Consumers may be happy with the price drop, but farmers are not. We are seeking ways to ensure they have access to credit and affordable inputs,” he said.
Kyari also revealed plans for a new harvest silo programme at the community level. “We want 85 per cent of storage located within farming communities to replace local mud silos, not just urban-based silos,” he said.
He put Nigeria’s yearly maize demand at about 25 million tonnes. Chairman of the committee, Saliu Mustapha, said the bills had successfully passed second reading in the Senate and were open for scrutiny. He highlighted that the cassava flour bill seeks to incorporate cassava into wheat flour production, reducing the nation’s $5 billion yearly wheat import, generating employment for youth, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
DURING a recent mission to Abuja, IITA Director-General and Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, met with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, for a high-level dialogue on strengthening collaboration for sustainable agriculture, youth agripreneurshipand food systems resilience.
Ehui highlighted IITA’s major research milestones and its impact in addressing key challenges in Africa’s agrifood systems, particularly in the areas of soil health, seed systems and plant health.
He also showcased successful innovations such as the award-winning Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology, which enhances crop propagation and productivity across regions.
“For IITA, the biggest challenge remains scaling, taking proven technologies from the lab to farmers at a much larger scale,” he stated. “This is why strategic partnerships are essential. We are committed to working closely with development partners like the United Nations to ensure that Africa becomes food-sufficient.”
In his remarks, Fall emphasised the UN’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation as part of its broader effort to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This visit has been high on my list, not only to connect with IITA but to create a bridge between us,” he said. “For a country like Nigeria, agriculture is the biggest channel for economic transformation if the right investments are made.”
The meeting underscored a shared vision between IITA, CGIAR and the United Nations to deliver science-driven, inclusive, and sustainable solutions that strengthen food systems and improve livelihoods across Africa.
