Niger Governor Bago Addresses $3 Billion Food Imports

During the fifth edition of the FirstBank Agric & Export Expo 2026 in Lagos, Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago revealed that Nigeria's food import bill has reached $3 billion within nine months and is expected to grow to $4 billion by the end of the year. Bago stressed the importance of developing local agriculture to ensure food sovereignty for Nigeria's growing population of 300 million.

He highlighted the adverse effects of security challenges on food production and proposed that addressing food security could help mitigate these issues. Bago called for collaboration among the government, banks, and the private sector to promote agricultural production.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Lagos State Governor Babadjide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Commissioner Abisola Olusanya, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the need for processing and exporting agricultural products to enhance economic growth and job creation.