FG To Adesina: ‘Food Security First—Criticism Can Wait

FG To Adesina: ‘Food Security First—Criticism Can Wait

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring food availability and affordability for Nigerians, stating that it will utilize all necessary measures to achieve this goal. Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari,…FG To Adesina: ‘Food Security First—Criticism Can Wait

emphasized that food importation is not inherently a bad policy, noting that only a few countries in the world have complete food sovereignty.

According to ireporteronline, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina had criticized the government’s food import policy, labeling it as a discouraging move that could negatively impact local farmers.

However, speaking in an interview with Arise News on Friday night, Kyari countered Adesina’s stance, reminding Nigerians that during his tenure as Agriculture Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Adesina himself approved food imports.

Kyari’s Response to Adesina’s Criticism

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Kyari stated. “But let’s not forget that when Adesina was Minister, did food imports happen? Yes, they did. And who approved them? He did. So, what has changed?”

He further pointed out that no nation operates in complete isolation when it comes to food supply.

“There are very few countries in the world that have absolute food sovereignty. Nations import and export based on demand and supply—it’s part of the global food system. But we must stay focused on the real issue at hand,” Kyari added.

Tinubu’s Government Committed to Lower Food Prices

Kyari reiterated that President Bola Tinubu is primarily concerned with making food more affordable for Nigerians, stressing that the administration is tackling the rising food inflation crisis head-on.

“The President is committed to ensuring that food prices are reduced. While production is ongoing, affordability remains a major concern. That is what keeps me up at night—figuring out how we can solve this problem,” he explained.

He also identified logistics and transportation as key factors driving up food prices, adding that food is often produced in different locations from where it is processed and consumed.

“There are critical linkages in logistics, processing, and transportation that affect pricing. Production is happening, but we must address these other challenges too,” Kyari emphasized.

The Minister assured Nigerians that the government remains dedicated to resolving food security issues and stabilizing the agricultural sector.

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