Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, announced that the Tinubu administration has suspended duties, tariffs, and taxes on importing major food items such as beans, wheat, and husked brown rice. This move aims to address the skyrocketing prices of basic food commodities in the country.
In a statement shared on his X account, Mr Kyari outlined that the government has lifted import restrictions on several key food items.
“Duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders have been suspended. These commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas,”
he said.
This policy shift comes just 48 hours after a similar announcement was made by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, which was subsequently deleted. The Minister confirmed that all imported food would be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price (RRP), a measure designed to ensure that the benefits of the policy reach consumers.
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The new import policy is part of a broader strategy to mitigate the impact of the recent removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira, which have contributed to a significant rise in food prices. The government hopes that reducing import costs will lead to a substantial decrease in the prices of essential food items.
In addition to the duty-free importation policy, the federal government plans to import large quantities of certain food items directly. Mr. Kyari revealed that the government will import 250,000 metric tons of wheat and 250,000 metric tons of maize. These semi-processed commodities will be distributed to small-scale processors and millers across the country to stabilize prices further and support local production.
The government’s decision to suspend import duties on these critical food items represents a significant intervention aimed at alleviating food insecurity and ensuring affordability for Nigerian households.
