Nigeria’s annual food import bill, estimated at about $10 billion, has drawn renewed attention from policymakers and industry stakeholders, amid concerns that continued reliance on foreign food supplies could weaken the country’s economic stability and strain foreign exchange reserves.
The rising import costs, covering key staples such as wheat, rice, sugar, fish, and tomato paste, shows what experts describe as a persistent imbalance between domestic production and national demand.
Despite having about 85 million hectares of arable land and a large youthful workforce, Nigeria continues to depend heavily on imports to meet its food needs.
Agricultural analysts say the widening gap between food production and consumption is driven by several longstanding challenges.
These include limited access to affordable financing for farmers, poor rural infrastructure, and ongoing insecurity in major farming regions.
These issues have slowed productivity growth and discouraged large-scale agricultural investment, even as Nigeria’s population continues to grow and demand for food rises.
The result is a system where local output cannot keep pace, leaving the country exposed to global price fluctuations and currency instability.
The heavy reliance on imported food has raised concerns about food security, particularly during periods of global supply disruption.
Such disruptions often lead to higher import costs, placing additional pressure on the naira and increasing the overall cost of food within the country.
Experts warn that without urgent reforms, Nigeria risks deepening its dependence on imports at a time when foreign exchange earnings remain fragile.
This could further weaken the country’s economic resilience and limit its ability to respond to external shocks.
Speaking in Abuja, Country Director of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Godwin Atser, said Nigeria’s continued dependence on food imports reflects a significant gap in domestic production capacity.
He noted that despite various government initiatives aimed at transforming the agricultural sector, the country still spends about $10 billion annually importing essential food items.
According to him, improving productivity will require the adoption of modern agricultural technologies and stronger support systems for farmers.
He added that the country’s production capacity still falls short of demand, underscoring the urgent need to deploy appropriate technologies to farmers through effective extension and advisory services to boost productivity and ensure food security.
Highlighting the role of innovation, Atser pointed to the importance of digital tools in strengthening agricultural extension systems.
Speaking on the theme, “The 2025 theme, ‘Transforming the Agricultural Landscape through Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services,’ he highlights the importance of bridging the gap between farmers and extension services.
He said, “With the extension-to-farmer ratio standing at approximately one agent to 10,000 farmers, there is a clear need for innovative, technology-driven solutions to improve outreach and enhance agricultural productivity.”
The current situation places agriculture at the centre of Nigeria’s economic and food security strategy.
Stakeholders say improving local production through better financing, infrastructure, security, and digital extension services could reduce import dependence and strengthen the sector.
