News in Brief:
– Nigerian governors met with the agriculture minister to discuss collaboration in efforts to boost food production.
– Despite naira devaluation making Nigerian food cheapest in West Africa, challenges remain, requiring joint efforts to address inflation and achieve food security.
Four Nigerian governors visited the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to discuss strategies for enhancing food production and national food security. The delegation was led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). It also included the governors of Taraba state, Agbu Kefas; Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; and Kogi state, Ahmed Ododo.
Governor Abdulrazaq highlighted the impact of the naira devaluation on food exports. He declared that it has made Nigerian food the cheapest in West Africa, according to a brief of the meeting published by a local media outlet. He stressed the need to leverage this advantage by increasing production and yields to serve both domestic and regional markets.
Additionally, the governors raised about the challenges encountered with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme. They noted the perceived overlap with the agriculture ministry’s functions under the previous administration.
However, Governor Abdulrazaq expressed optimism about the current minister’s approach and the potential for collaboration on programmes focused on cassava, rice, and maize production.
Responding, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari acknowledged the importance of collaboration between federal and state governments. He said this was essential in achieving all-year-round agricultural production.
Also, he referenced the encouraging response to his Expression of Interest for the second phase of the Dry Season Food Production Programme. The project is aimed at driving down food inflation and promoting economic growth.
