Nigeria alarmed by high wheat import costs

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has expressed concern over recent National Bureau of Statistics data revealing that the country spent over 1 trillion naira (approximately $600 million USD) on wheat imports from October 2023 to September 2024. He described the figure as a troubling indicator of challenges in the agricultural sector, underscoring the urgent need to reduce reliance on imports. The statement was made during the 2nd National Rainfed Wheat Farmers Day, held at the National Root Crops Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State. Organized by the Lake Chad Research Institute in Maiduguri under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the event aims to foster a modern agricultural research system to boost productivity, alleviate poverty, and create jobs. Kyari highlighted the ministry’s focus on innovation and improving crop varieties to enhance yields. During a tour of a wheat farm in Vom, he showcased a ...