Experts warn that worsening insecurity, overdependence on food imports and under-utilised farmlands are undermining Nigeria’s quest for food security, despite the country’s enormous agricultural resources.

Nigeria’s Food Security Challenge: Why Insecurity & Imports Continue to Drive Hunger

NIGERIA’S growing food crisis is increasingly becoming a source of concern for policymakers, farmers and economic experts, as rising food prices continue to place pressure on households across the country.

Despite possessing some of Africa’s most fertile agricultural land, vast water resources and a large farming population, the country remains heavily dependent on imported food products while domestic food production struggles to keep pace with demand.

Industry stakeholders say the situation is being worsened by insecurity in farming communities, which has forced thousands of farmers away from their fields and disrupted agricultural activities in key food-producing regions.

Insecurity Taking a Toll on Food Production

Agricultural experts argue that insecurity remains the single biggest obstacle to Nigeria’s food self-sufficiency ambitions.

Across several states, including Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and parts of the North-West, incidents of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on farming communities have reduced cultivation activities and discouraged investment in agriculture.

Maritime and trade analyst Ismail Aniemu noted that Nigeria’s agricultural potential remains largely untapped because many farmers are unable to access their farms safely.

According to him, ensuring security in rural communities would significantly increase food production and reduce the country’s dependence on imported commodities.

He stressed that many agricultural belts across Nigeria possess enough capacity to support large-scale production of rice, yam, cassava, maize and other staple crops if security challenges are effectively addressed.

Experts say restoring confidence among farmers could unlock millions of hectares of currently underutilised farmland.

The Growing Cost of Food Imports

Stakeholders also expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported food products, warning that the practice is placing additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves and contributing to inflation.

According to freight forwarding and trade experts, importing food while paying in foreign currencies exposes the economy to exchange-rate volatility and increases the cost of food for consumers.

With the naira facing persistent pressures in international markets, food importation has become increasingly expensive, a development that eventually translates into higher market prices.

Analysts argue that temporary measures such as duty waivers on food imports may offer short-term relief but cannot substitute for long-term agricultural development.

They contend that a nation blessed with extensive arable land should be focused on exporting agricultural products rather than depending on foreign supplies to meet basic food needs.

Lessons from Other African Economies

Several experts pointed to neighbouring countries as examples of how strategic investment in agriculture can drive food exports and economic growth.

Ghana, frequently cited in discussions on agricultural exports, has built successful export markets for products such as cocoa and packaged yam despite having a smaller landmass and population than Nigeria.

Analysts believe Nigeria possesses far greater agricultural advantages but has not fully leveraged them due to infrastructure gaps, insecurity and inconsistent policy implementation.

According to stakeholders, creating an enabling environment for farmers, processors and exporters could significantly transform the agricultural sector and generate foreign exchange earnings.

Food Security as National Security

Agricultural stakeholders insist that food security cannot be separated from national security.

Chief Osita Chukwudinma described insecurity as a direct threat to food availability, noting that fertile regions remain under-utilised because farmers fear attacks and displacement.

He highlighted Niger State as one of several regions with enormous agricultural potential capable of transforming national food production if security conditions improve.

Experts argue that investments in rural security, farm infrastructure, irrigation systems, storage facilities and agricultural financing are essential to reversing current trends.

Pathway to Sustainable Food Security

Stakeholders agreed that Nigeria possesses the resources required to become a major agricultural powerhouse.

However, they stressed that achieving food sufficiency will require a coordinated approach involving improved security, reduced dependence on imports, stronger support for local farmers and increased investment in agricultural value chains.

As food inflation continues to affect millions of households, experts say the urgency of these reforms has never been greater.

For many observers, Nigeria’s food challenge is not a question of capacity but of creating the right conditions for farmers and agribusinesses to thrive.