News in Brief:
Nigeria’s Agriculture minister claims that government efforts have led to a decrease in food prices, urging youths to engage in farming amidst nationwide protests against rising costs of living.
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has announced a decline in the prices of certain food commodities as a result of the federal government’s efforts to bolster food security.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page, Kyari encouraged youths to engage in agricultural activities to support these efforts.
The minister attributed the price reduction to specific intervention programs implemented by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
According to him, the agriculture ministry has proactively introduced policies and programs that have led to a noticeable decrease in the prices of potatoes, maize, millet, and vegetables.
Although, the latest data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that sweet potato prices were 206% more expensive in June 2024 compared to June 2023. It is not clear of the minister was refering to month-on-month decrease in his statement.
Fertiliser distribution and weather forecast
To further support farmers, the minister highlighted the government’s ongoing fertiliser distribution through the NAGS-AP program. He noted that the project is designed to alleviate the burdens faced by smallholder farmers in accessing essential agricultural inputs.
Also, he credited his leadership for facilitating the distribution of fertilisers provided by the central bank to state governors. Kyari also expressed optimism about a continued decline in food prices due to favorable weather conditions and anticipated increased harvest.
Call for youth involvement amidst protests
Meanwhile, amidst nationwide protests against rising hardship and food prices, the minister urged young people to focus on agriculture rather than participating in demonstrations. He warned that protests could lead to discord and anarchy.
“Heed this call to action and concentrate our energies on nurturing our agricultural lands rather than engaging in protests that may sow seeds of discord and anarchy,” he urged.
The minister’s call comes as protests break out across the country denouncing unchecked hardship in the country that led to record high food prices. The protesters have called on government authorities to address these issues with urgency.
Prices of staples like rice, bread, yam, beans and vegetables have seen increasing addition since the inception of the administration, leading to official food inflation rates currently soaring beyond 40%.
The protest, which is ongoing, have seen several businesses shut down across major towns across Nigeria, including in Lagos and Abuja. Teams of security personnel have been deployed to different parts of the country to prevent breakdown of law and order as the demonstrations enters its first day.
