Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, has expressed concerns over Nigeria’s plan to import food, describing it as a “depressing” policy.
Speaking at the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa retreat in Abuja, Adesina emphasized the importance of local food production for price stability and job creation.
Adesina highlighted that relying on food imports undermines Nigeria’s agricultural policy and could lead to increased pressure on foreign exchange. “Nigeria cannot stabilize prices by importing food,” he stated.
“The country should focus on producing more food locally to stabilize prices, create jobs, and reduce foreign exchange expenditure, thus helping to stabilize the Naira.”
He stressed that Nigeria must not become dependent on food imports, which would exacerbate food insecurity. With Africa hosting nearly a third of the world’s hungry population, Adesina underscored the vital role of agriculture in economic diversification and rural transformation.
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Africa, he noted, holds 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, essential for feeding an estimated 9.5 billion people by 2050.
“The future of global food security depends on Africa’s agricultural progress,” Adesina asserted, predicting the continent’s food and agriculture market will reach $1 trillion by 2030.
This criticism comes after the Nigerian government announced plans to allow duty-free food imports for 150 days to curb rising prices, a move that contradicts previous statements by President Tinubu and has faced backlash from local farmers.
The import policy threatens to erode gains in local production and exacerbates the food inflation crisis, which has seen prices surge over 40% in the past year, pushing millions into poverty and hunger.
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