Food inflation in Nigeria: Akinwunmi Adesina and farmers lament Tinubu’s decision to suspend taxes on imported food

All farmers’ associations in Nigeria complain that the government’s recent decision to allow duty-free import of food products for the next few months poses a major threat to farmers and the national economy.

In their view, this move will cause numerous setbacks for local farmers and result in many Nigerians losing their jobs.

In this context, attempts are being made to control food inflation and alleviate the hardships of the average Nigerian by removing all taxes on imported food.

However, the Farmers Association of Nigeria believes this policy is correct.

Yunusa Halidu, the national secretary of the Nigerian Farmers’ Association, said in an interview with BBC News Pidgin: “The people who are happy with the new policy of duty-free import of foodstuffs are not saying they are doing it because it could weaken the national economy.”

“The food that is imported into Nigeria is not grown abroad. Why don’t we grow our own food instead of buying it from outside Nigeria? If people expect this to reduce hardship, it will not happen,” he said.

“This decision poses a threat to the national economy as it would result in the loss of jobs of all Nigerians who depend on agriculture, as well as the farmers who work for them,” he added.

Halidu also points out that the main reason for high food prices in Nigeria is insecurity, which prevents farmers from abandoning their farms.

Their argument: If the government can address these security problems, farmers will be able to produce enough food to meet the population’s needs and will need to import less.

The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, believes the government decision will destroy the country’s agriculture.

“Nigeria recently announced that it would open its borders to imports of large quantities of foodstuffs just to cope with short-term increases in food prices. And that is depressing,” said Adesina.

E warns that this policy undermines all the hard work and private investment in the Nigerian agricultural sector.

Economist Sani Sulaiman argues that there are advantages and disadvantages to government decisions on food imports.

“First, this temporary decision by the Nigerian government will help stabilize food prices and make them more affordable for Nigerians. It will also create competition between local and imported food, which will benefit us if we have good economic policies,” he explains.

“When food is imported into Nigeria, it is important to ensure that the food reaches all parts of the country and no one buys it to hoard it,” he adds.

“If the government takes all necessary measures, it will be good for Nigeria.” Sulaiman Tok.

But every country wants to be self-sufficient in food production and export food, which would boost the national economy. “If a country can export food, it will generate revenue that will benefit the national economy.”

Sulaiman also warned that if there was no plan to import food from abroad, it could pose a threat to the country’s economy.

“The Nigerian government must take effective action on this, otherwise it will damage our local economy and affect our local farmers,” he said.

He added that if the naira appreciates, it will help because the money we use to buy food outside Nigeria will gain more purchasing power against the naira. Strengthening the naira will reduce the economic burden of spending foreign currency on imports.

A resident of Sokoto, Aliyu Abubakar, says food prices have not changed even after the growth announcement.

Abubakar says: “A large mudu of rice still sells for 4,000 naira (US$2.47), while a large mudu of beans sells for 5,000 naira (US$3).”

“Even if the Nigerian government decides to open the borders, nothing will change.”

He added: “We hope that food prices will soon come down once the Nigerian government decides to open the land borders.”

The Nigerian Farmers’ Association stresses that although the agricultural decision will lead to a reduction in food prices in the short term, it will cause greater damage in the long term.

In their view, the entry of cheaper, imported food into the market could ruin local farmers, which in turn would lead to higher unemployment and economic instability.

The association calls for a good approach to support local food production that benefits Nigerian farmers.