Activist Cautions Federal Gov’t Against Importation Of Food Items

The Executive Director of Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro), AbdulRazaq Hamzat has warned the federal government against the danger of continued importation of subsidised agricultural commodities.

Hamzat, during an interview with LEADERSHIP in Ilorin, Kwara State, warned that the policy is crippling Nigeria’s agro-industry, discouraging investment, and pushing the country toward food insecurity.

While the government celebrates the decline in food prices, Hamzat argued that the trend is artificial and dangerous, noting that it is driven by “cheap” foreign imports subsidised by other nations.

The development, the activist noted undermines Nigerian farmers and threatens national economic stability.

“It is shocking that while other nations subsidise their agricultural industries to create jobs and sustain food production, Nigeria is doing the opposite, importing cheap food to destroy its own agriculture. This is a suicidal economic policy that must stop immediately.

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“The real victory is achieving food sufficiency through strong local production, not artificially low prices from foreign imports. If this policy continues, Nigerian agriculture will be permanently crippled, and the country will become entirely dependent on foreign nations for survival,” he said.

Hamzat noted that foreign countries exporting food to Nigeria heavily subsidise their farmers, allowing them to sell at artificially low prices.

“This has led to declining investments in agriculture and a loss of confidence in the sector. Farmers cannot expand their production when they are constantly undercut by imported food that costs less than their production expenses,” he added.

Hamzat warned that while Nigerians might be enjoying cheaper food now, the long-term consequences will be disastrous, adding that: “If these imports slow down or become expensive, Nigeria will be left vulnerable with no strong local production to fall back on, leading to a severe food crisis.”