Tinubu's Food Security Efforts Strained by Rising Costs

Three years after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security on 13 July 2023, challenges such as rising agricultural input costs, limited access to government support, and insecurity continue to undermine the effectiveness of federal interventions. Farmers report increased production costs despite government efforts to boost food output.

The federal government has implemented several measures, including the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket, and the introduction of the Guaranteed Minimum Price programme. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, reported in February 2026 that the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro Pocket had produced 2.53 million metric tonnes of crops valued at N2.31 trillion.

However, the rising costs of fertilisers and tractor services have significantly increased financial burdens on farmers, leading to concerns about food prices. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, claimed essential food prices had dropped by up to 50 percent, a statement disputed by traders and sellers.