Concerns Mount Over Nigeria’s Open Border Policy on Food Imports, Experts Warn

The Federal Government’s recent decision to open Nigeria’s borders for a 150-day duty-free importation window on essential commodities such as maize, rice, wheat, and cowpeas has sparked concern among experts about its impact on private investments in the agricultural sector.

Announced by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari during a press conference in Abuja, the initiative is part of the newly launched Presidential Accelerated Stabilisation and Advancement Plan (PASAP), aimed at tackling immediate food security challenges in the country. Kyari assured that imported commodities during this period would be subject to price controls, emphasizing President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring food security and averting hunger among Nigerians.

However, critics, including Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, have raised alarms over the policy’s potential long-term repercussions. Adesina, a former Nigerian agriculture minister, described the move as “depressing,” cautioning that it could undermine previous efforts and private investments made to bolster Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“Nigeria cannot depend on food imports to stabilize prices,” Adesina asserted in a statement, emphasizing the need for increased local production to stabilize food prices, create jobs, and reduce foreign exchange spending—a move crucial for strengthening the Nigerian naira.

Addressing the theme of ‘Food Security and Financial Sustainability in Africa’ at a recent retreat, Adesina highlighted Africa’s potential in agriculture, underscoring that the continent holds 65% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. He stressed the importance of Nigeria feeding itself independently, warning against the risks of becoming overly reliant on food imports.

Supporting perspectives from Afrinvest highlighted both the potential relief the policy may offer to households and its limitations without a concurrent improvement in the domestic agricultural value chain. They noted concerns over ongoing challenges such as insecurity in key agricultural regions, which continue to hinder productivity and exacerbate food availability issues.

Kabir Ibrahim, National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), echoed these sentiments, suggesting that while the temporary duty-free importation may provide short-term relief, sustainable food security hinges on empowering local farmers through subsidies and infrastructure improvements.

In conclusion, while the PASAP initiative aims to inject N2 trillion into Nigeria’s economy, prioritizing health, agriculture, and energy sectors, stakeholders emphasize the need for a comprehensive strategy that addresses systemic challenges to ensure long-term food security and economic resilience.