FG Raises Alarm Over Subsidised Imports Threatening Nigeria's Agriculture

News in Brief: — The Federal Government says a rising influx of subsidised agricultural imports is weakening local farm production and threatening Nigeria's food security goals. — Budget Minister Abubakar Bagudu says over 42 million Nigerian farming households remain central to the country's agrifood transformation agenda.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, has raised alarm over the impending effects of increasing imports of subsidised agricultural products into Nigeria on local production. He says the trends weaken local production, discourage investments and threaten Nigeria’s food security and self-sufficiency goals.

He made the statement at the second biannual meeting of the Agrifood Systems Working Group in Abuja, convened by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Bagudu claimed that these artificially cheap agricultural products entering Nigeria through unfair trade practices are placing local farmers at a disadvantage and undermining efforts to build a resilient agrifood system capable of driving long-term economic growth.

Rising Costs Compound Sector Pressure

The minister noted that the pressure on agriculture, already worsened by rising fertiliser and energy costs linked to global conflicts, continues to affect productivity across the value chain.

Bagudu reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to making agriculture a driver of economic diversification, poverty reduction and food security, stressing that Nigeria's over 42 million farming households remain central to that vision.

He stated that improving farmers' access to finance, mechanisation, premium seedlings, technology and profitable markets would boost food production, strengthen rural livelihoods and reduce Nigeria's dependence on food imports.

Bagudu called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, researchers and the private sector to tackle both domestic and global challenges facing the sector.

Reforms to Cushion Sector Shocks

While acknowledging how insecurity disrupts farming in parts of the country, he said reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda are designed to strengthen the sector against domestic and external shocks. 

He cited the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, increased support for the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), and greater investment in science, innovation and climate-smart agriculture.

Bagudu maintained that agriculture should not be seen as the government's sole responsibility, urging researchers, financial institutions, development partners and private investors to play more active roles in transforming the sector.

Sector Records Growth Despite Challenges

The minister said Nigeria's agricultural sector grew from ₦96.46 trillion in 2024 to ₦101.46 trillion in 2025, while real growth improved from 1.69 per cent to 2.92 per cent, reflecting its increasing contribution to the economy despite prevailing challenges.

Bagudu noted that while the African Union's agricultural development framework covers 2026–2035, President Tinubu has set a more ambitious national target of lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 through inclusive growth, improved livelihoods and enhanced food security.

He described food security as central to Nigeria's development agenda, noting that the country's over 42 million agricultural households, mostly smallholder family farmers, remain the backbone of national food production.

"The success of Nigeria's food system depends on empowering our millions of farming households with the support, technology, financing and market opportunities they need to produce more efficiently and improve their incomes," he said.

Bagudu commended the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, for leading the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 2026–2035, saying the continental framework aligns with Nigeria's long-term goal of building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable food system.