By Abdullahi Lukman
Dolapo Bright, former Special Adviser on Agriculture to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has warned that the recent drop in food prices in Nigeria is temporary and unsustainable.
He attributed the slight relief to seasonal factors and the federal government’s grain importation policy but insisted that food costs will rise again unless local production is prioritized.
Speaking on *Inside Sources with Laolu Akande*, a socio-political program on Channels Television, Bright explained that the reduction in onion, tomato, and pepper prices is due to dry-season harvests in states like Kano, Sokoto, and Kebbi.
However, he criticized the government’s decision to import grains at zero duty, arguing that it undermines Nigerian farmers and food security.
“The government imported grains from outside the country at zero duty, which, to me, is a disgrace,” Bright said.
“Farmers are unhappy because this discourages local production. Other countries support their farmers—Thailand provides $1.6 billion annually in rice subsidies, and Europe spends over $34 billion on agricultural support.”
Bright also highlighted inefficiencies in government interventions, citing delays in fertilizer distribution that have negatively affected crop yields.
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He warned that food prices would continue to rise unless the government supports year-round farming.
“We must not jubilate; food prices will go up unless the president keeps importing,” he asserted, continuing, “With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria must produce food consistently.”
Analyst Moheed Dahiru echoed Bright’s concerns, stating that Nigerians have yet to feel the impact of government policies on agriculture.
He argued that food inflation has surged beyond affordability, despite interventions such as the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage.
“Between May 2023 and February 2025, food prices skyrocketed, and even wage increases have not eased the burden on Nigerians,” Dahiru said.
Nigeria has been battling severe food inflation, exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange rate unification.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation reached 39.93 percent in November 2024 before being rebased to 26.08 percent in January 2025.
To address rising food costs, the federal government announced the suspension of customs duties on imported food items in July 2024. However, bureaucratic delays have hampered implementation.
Bright maintained that import duty waivers are not a sustainable solution, emphasizing the need for stronger domestic agricultural policies to secure Nigeria’s food future.
