By Sabiu Abdullahi
In a bid to address rising food inflation and alleviate the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, the Federal Government has announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities.
The initiative, which is part of the Presidential Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan, aims to reduce demand for forex by food importers and make food more affordable for Nigerians.
According to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, the duty-free import window will be valid for commodities such as maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas.
The government will also import 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize, which will be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country.
The minister noted that the government’s decision to allow duty-free imports was necessitated by the high cost of food items in the country, which has made it difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic foodstuffs.
He attributed the high food prices to various factors, including infrastructural challenges, multiple taxes and levies, and profiteering by marketers and traders.
The government’s move has been commended by stakeholders in the agricultural sector, who noted that it would help stabilize food prices and provide relief to millions of Nigerians.
However, some experts have expressed concern that the initiative may undermine domestic agricultural production and turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for imported commodities.
The government has assured that it will collaborate with state governments to identify irrigable lands and increase land under cultivation, and will also ramp up production for the 2024/2025 farming cycle through sustained support to smallholder farmers.
Additionally, the government plans to develop a strategic engagement for youth and women in greenhouse cultivation of horticultural crops and fast-track engagements with the Nigerian Military to rapidly cultivate arable lands under the Defence Farms Scheme.