By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria’s dependence on imported food has grown sharply, with food and beverage imports rising by 44.48 per cent in the first half of 2025, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Figures show that the value of food and beverage imports increased to N677.3 billion between January and June 2025, up from N468.76 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
While processed food imported for household consumption dropped slightly by 1.85 per cent—from N699.58 billion to N686.81 billion—imports for industrial use climbed by 7.28 per cent, rising from N984.16 billion to N1.06 trillion during the same period.
Experts in the agricultural and business sectors have attributed the rise in imports to low local production capacity, insecurity, policy inconsistencies, and the public’s preference for imported products.
The Chairman of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Agricultural and Allied Group, Mr. Tunde Banjoko, said the data reflects a lack of confidence in locally produced food and raw materials.
“From this data, one can infer that people trust the quality of imported food and materials more than what is produced locally,” he said.
Banjoko identified limited funding, poor seed quality, and inefficient production processes as major barriers to local competitiveness.
He added that poor storage systems and inactive commodity boards have worsened the situation, leading to food shortages and wastage.
He advised the Federal Government (FG) to establish proper storage facilities, provide guaranteed offtake for farmers through commodity boards, and strengthen agricultural funding mechanisms.
The President of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Dr. Femi Egbesola, linked the situation to insecurity and low technology adoption in farming.
“Most farmers are no longer on the farms because of insecurity. Many farmlands have been deserted,” he said, adding that productivity in Nigeria remains far below global standards.
“For example, what it takes to produce 10 tons of cassava in Nigeria may require 30 acres of land, whereas in the Netherlands, the same yield comes from just three plots,” he noted.
Egbesola urged the government to integrate technology into agriculture, mechanise production, and support peasant farmers to improve yield and reduce dependence on imports.
Also, the Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, attributed part of the increase to government import waivers and the high demand for staple foods such as wheat-based products.
He explained that the 180-day import waivers for maize and brown rice granted in 2024 contributed to higher import figures in early 2025.
He also noted that currency depreciation made import values appear higher in naira terms, even when physical quantities did not rise substantially.
Yusuf urged the government to improve agricultural value chains, support local alternatives to wheat, and ensure policy consistency to attract local investment.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr. Eke Ubiji, warned that the rise in import figures does not reflect better purchasing power among Nigerians.
“I doubt these figures mean consumers are buying more. Inflation has eroded purchasing power, forcing many to settle for smaller and cheaper products,” he said.
Ubiji added that the increase in imports may be driven more by industrial demand than household consumption.
Stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to tackle insecurity, improve storage and processing infrastructure, and expand access to finance for farmers and processors to reduce import dependency.
Nigeria’s agricultural import bill has continued to rise, reaching N2.22 trillion in the first half of 2025.
Experts warn that without urgent interventions, the growing reliance on food imports could deepen food insecurity and increase pressure on foreign exchange reserves.