Nigeria’s Food Import Bill Falls as Spending Drops to ₦1.39 Trillion

News in Brief:

—Nigeria's food and drink imports fell by 16.7% year-on-year to ₦1.39 trillion in the first quarter of 2026.

—Analysts attribute the decline to increased local sourcing, weaker demand for imports, and government efforts to promote domestic food production.

Nigeria recorded a significant reduction in food and drink imports during the first quarter of 2026, with total spending dropping to ₦1.39 trillion from ₦1.67 trillion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicate that businesses and consumers are gradually adjusting to economic realities, foreign exchange pressures, and ongoing efforts to strengthen local agricultural production.

The decline reflects reduced importation across several categories, including staple food products, industrial food inputs and household consumption goods.

Industrial and Household Food Imports Slow

According to the data, imports for industrial food use declined to ₦353.24 billion during the review period, while household food imports fell to ₦280.81 billion.

The figures suggest that manufacturers and consumers are increasingly seeking alternatives to imported products amid rising import costs and currency-related challenges.

Despite the decline, Nigeria continues to depend heavily on imports of key commodities such as wheat, fish, dairy products, malt, and industrial food-processing inputs.

Local Sourcing Gains Momentum

Industry analysts believe the reduction in import spending may signal growing local sourcing efforts among manufacturers and food processors.

Higher import costs linked to exchange rate fluctuations have encouraged some businesses to explore domestic supply chains and locally available raw materials.

The trend also aligns with government policies aimed at promoting local agriculture, expanding food processing capacity and reducing the country's dependence on imported food products.

Food Security Challenges Remain

While the decline in food imports is seen as a positive indicator for local production, analysts caution that Nigeria still faces significant challenges in achieving food self-sufficiency.

They argue that sustained investments in agricultural infrastructure, mechanisation, storage, processing and market access will be necessary to increase domestic output and close existing supply gaps.

Strengthening local production, they say, remains critical to improving food security, reducing import dependence and enhancing the resilience of Nigeria's food system.