By: Erewunmi Peace

In the wake of Nigeria’s aggressive efforts to slash food prices, farmers across the country have criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for encouraging the importation of staple crops such as rice and maize.

The federal government had recently introduced a 150-day duty-free import window for key food items including rice, maize, wheat, and cowpeas. The move, which aims to tame soaring food inflation, has already led to sharp price drops in local markets. Prices of 50kg bags of rice, for instance, fell from over ₦100,000 to between ₦60,000 and ₦65,000. Similarly, maize prices plummeted from ₦60,000 to ₦30,000.

However, many Nigerian farmers and agriculture stakeholders are expressing outrage. They argue that the importation policy is crippling local production and threatening national food security.

“There’s no point in planting rice and maize anymore,” said Retson Tedheke, a notable agriculturist and founder of the Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society. “This policy makes it clear the government values cheap imports over the hard work of Nigerian farmers.”

Several farmer associations warn that such a policy could lead to abandoned farmlands, job losses in the agricultural sector, and long-term dependency on foreign food.

The backlash comes at a time when over 30 million Nigerians are food-insecure, according to international agencies. While food prices may be temporarily lower due to imports, critics fear the long-term consequences could be devastating.

President Tinubu’s administration, however, insists the move is necessary to provide short-term relief and curb inflation.

“This is not a permanent solution, but a strategic intervention,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture. “It buys us time to fix local supply chains.”

The policy has sparked a growing debate: Should Nigeria prioritize immediate affordability or long-term self-sufficiency?

As the government continues to monitor market responses, farmers are urging more sustainable policies that protect local production, support smallholder farmers, and build national food resilience.