Our Reserve Not Empty, Agric Minister Insists
“Experts have long criticized Nigeria’s Strategic Grain Reserve for its vulnerability to shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened food insecurity, prompting concerns over closed borders and weak reserves. Minister Abubakar Kyari emphasized the need for enhanced production to stabilize prices during a Senate briefing. Recently, President Tinubu authorized the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of grain to combat food shortages and inflation. However, details on grain types and distribution plans are sparse, fueling suspicions. Agricultural economists stress the need for increased budget allocations and the establishment of reliable food banks nationwide to ensure sustainable food security. Source: Daily Trust
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The issue of Nigeria’s Strategic Grain Reserve System has been a long-standing concern, exacerbated by challenges such as the impact of COVID-19 and border closures, which highlighted weaknesses in the country’s food security measures. Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, addressed these concerns during a briefing with the Joint Senate Committee on the Economy. He emphasized the need for intensified production efforts across both dry and wet seasons to stabilize food prices, attributing current issues not to hoarding but to market speculation. In response to rising food prices, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the release of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains from the national reserves to mitigate shortages and inflation. However, details on the composition of these grains and their distribution modalities have not been fully disclosed, leading to skepticism among some observers regarding their availability and impact.
Senator Kyari indicated that the grains would be distributed through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) based on poverty indices and specific needs, aiming to provide relief to struggling Nigerian families. Despite these efforts, stakeholders like Kabir Ibrahim of AFAN advocate for more sustainable measures, including the establishment of veritable food banks across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones to ensure long-term food security through enhanced production, storage, processing, distribution, and consumption practices.”
