Nigeria Needs 25 Million Tonnes of Maize Annually

The Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, announced that the country needs a minimum of 25 million tonnes of maize annually to satisfy national demand and enhance food security. This disclosure was made during a quarterly citizen stakeholder engagement meeting held in Abuja.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting smallholder farmers across the country by improving access to financing and agricultural interventions. Abdullahi emphasized the need to increase maize production to reduce reliance on food imports and noted that expanding domestic production is critical for making nutritious food affordable and accessible to Nigerians.

The government prioritizes the maize value chain alongside rice and wheat, aiming to create opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers. Recent challenges in maize production due to insecurity and rising production costs were highlighted, with the government aligning its policies with President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda to achieve food sovereignty.