Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, criticized Nigeria’s recent decision to permit large-scale food imports, saying it threatens the nation’s agricultural sector. This follows the announcement by Agriculture Minister Abubakar Kyari on July 10 to suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on maize, brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas imports for 150 days.
Adesina expressed his concerns during a retreat with African Primates of the Anglican Church in Abuja, noting that this policy undermines years of investment and effort in Nigeria’s agriculture. “Nigeria cannot rely on the importation of food to stabilize prices. Nigeria should be producing more food to stabilize food prices, while creating jobs and reducing foreign exchange spending, that will further help stabilize the Naira,” Adesina asserted.
He stressed that turning Nigeria into a food import-dependent nation is detrimental and urged the country to bolster its food production capabilities. “Nigeria must feed itself with pride,” he declared, adding that true independence is compromised if a nation relies on others for its food supply.
The retreat, themed ‘Food Security and Financial Sustainability in Africa: The Role of the Church,’ was attended by Anglican leaders representing over 40 million members across Africa. His Grace the Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, emphasized the importance of the gathering for deepening bonds and collaboration among African Anglican leaders.
Adesina highlighted the critical role of agriculture in diversifying economies and transforming rural areas, where over 70% of Africa’s population resides. He emphasized that transforming agriculture is essential for eliminating poverty in Africa.
Africa holds 65% of the world’s remaining uncultivated arable land, and Adesina stressed that what Africa does with its agriculture will determine the future of global food security. He noted that the continent’s food and agriculture market is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030.
Adesina also detailed the African Development Bank’s $25 billion initiative to revolutionize agriculture by providing advanced agricultural technologies to 40 million farmers, aiming for Africa’s self-sufficiency by 2030. He shared successes like Ethiopia becoming a net wheat exporter and Sudan’s increased wheat production through the Bank’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program.
In Nigeria, the Bank has partnered with the Islamic Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development to provide $520 million for Special Agricultural Processing Zones. These zones aim to boost local agricultural processing industries. Additionally, $134 million was allocated for emergency food production to combat food price inflation by enhancing the production of wheat and cassava.
Adesina called on the Nigerian government to leverage these investments, showing commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency and encouraging private agribusinesses. The Bank and its partners are also supporting the development of 28 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones across 11 countries, with $4.5 billion mobilized so far.
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya, the Most Reverend Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, representing the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa, emphasized the need for greater cooperation between the Bank Group and the Anglican Church. He advocated for joint efforts in mobilizing resources for Africa’s holistic transformation.
Adesina concluded by urging for visionary leadership, robust government policies, and church-led initiatives to end hunger and malnutrition. He called for investments in commercial farms, climate change advocacy, support for young agricultural entrepreneurs, and greater financial accountability from governments.
