Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiga, has raised the alarm over widespread extortion at checkpoints across the country. He disclosed that truck drivers transporting agricultural products, such as cattle, are forced to pay an average of ₦1.2 million per trip as they navigate over 700 checkpoints manned by both state and non-state actors.
The minister made these revelations during the Daily Trust 22nd Annual Dialogue held in Abuja. He pointed out that this extortion contributes significantly to the rising cost of food in Nigerian markets, particularly meat.
“Our people who transport cows face approximately 700 checkpoints as they travel across the country,” he said. “These drivers pay about ₦1.2 million per trip, and these costs are ultimately transferred to the goods they carry.”
He urged relevant government agencies to take swift action to remove these illegal checkpoints, especially those set up by non-state actors, in order to reduce food costs and make it affordable for Nigerians.
Factors Driving High Food Prices
The minister acknowledged other factors contributing to the food crisis, including flooding in parts of Nigeria and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which has disrupted global food supplies.
“With our growing population, Nigeria must do more to address insecurity and improve agricultural practices to meet the country’s food needs,” he added.
He pointed to Brazil as a model for achieving agricultural growth and urged Nigeria to adopt similar strategies. “It’s time to stop talking about Nigeria’s potential and start acting on it,” the minister said, calling for transformative policies that move the sector beyond subsistence farming to large-scale production.
Anchor Borrower Programme Faces Criticism
Adding to the dialogue, Kabir Ibrahim, the National President of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), criticized the Anchor Borrower Programme initiated by the previous administration.
The scheme, which aimed to boost rice and wheat production between 2015 and 2016, failed due to corruption, he claimed. “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gave billions of naira to prime anchors, but instead of disbursing the funds to real farmers, these anchors used the money to buy rice from the market,” he revealed.
This mismanagement, according to Ibrahim, derailed the programme’s goal of increasing local food production. He also highlighted the impact of insecurity on farming activities, which has further worsened food availability and affordability.
To combat these challenges, he called for large-scale dry-season farming and measures to address conflicts between farmers and herders.
Tomato Production Still Dominated by Foreigners
Mrs. Mira Mehta, CEO and co-founder of Tomato Jos, also spoke at the event. She revealed that 95 percent of tomato paste in Nigeria is produced by Chinese expatriates, leaving local farmers struggling to compete.
Mehta, who has extensive experience in agribusiness, explained that food manufacturers in Nigeria face numerous challenges, including insecurity and high production costs.
She highlighted that over 30 percent of Nigeria’s food supply is imported, putting pressure on prices due to the country’s exchange rate.
“In Kenya, which has a similar per capita income to Nigeria, people spend less than half of their salaries on food,” she noted. “Meanwhile, the average Nigerian spends two-thirds of their income on food.”
Solutions to Nigeria’s Food Crisis
Mehta called on the Nigerian government to develop deliberate policies that support farmers and attract the younger generation to agriculture. She also emphasized the importance of making precision farming technology accessible and affordable to boost productivity.
By reducing reliance on imports and addressing inefficiencies in the agricultural sector, Nigeria can lower food costs and improve food security for its growing population, she concluded.
