Why is food so expensive in a food-producing nation?

Millions of Nigerians are fighting an unparalleled daily battle for survival, with families finding it difficult to obtain even one meal. People are now suffering from hunger and despair as a result of the federal government’s much-heralded promise of a food import waiver, which was portrayed as a lifeline to lower the rapidly rising cost of living.

Take the plight of Ibrahim Wahab, a Lagos-based father of four, who epitomises the average Nigeria’s struggle. “I spend 65 percent of my earnings on food,” he laments. “There’s nothing left to save or invest.” His testimony underscores the grim reality: Nigeria’s economy is eating its people alive, one meal at a time.

In July 2024, the Federal Ministry of Finance issued a directive promising a suspension of import duties on essential food items such as rice, wheat, and maize. This policy was heralded as a temporary reprieve to mitigate the deepening cost-of-living crisis. Yet, six months later, not a single grain of hope materialised. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) pointed fingers at the ministry for failing to forward the necessary list of qualified importers—a bureaucratic deadlock that typifies Nigeria’s systemic inefficiencies.

The consequences have been catastrophic. Families now spend an unsustainable proportion of their incomes on food, with the price of a 50kg bag of rice surpassing the national minimum wage. Meanwhile, essential food items—beans, cassava, potatoes—have seen price hikes of over 100 percent within a year. This non-implementation of the food import waiver has not only deepened the hunger crisis but also laid bare the government’s glaring lack of coordination and foresight.

This debacle unfolds against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which, while ambitious, have proven punishing. The removal of petrol subsidies and the devaluation of the naira have sent inflation soaring to 34.6 percent, with food inflation peaking at 39.9 percent—the highest in nearly three decades. The World Food Programme’s dire projection that 33 million Nigerians could face hunger in 2025 only adds to the urgency.

The government’s failure to implement its own policies is not just an administrative oversight; it is an abdication of its primary responsibility to its citizens. As analysts warn of worsening climate impacts on food production and persistent insecurity disrupting agricultural activities, the window to act is rapidly closing.

Nigeria stands at a critical juncture. The federal government must prioritise a coordinated and transparent approach to food security. The Ministry of Finance and the NCS must overcome their bureaucratic inertia and execute the food import waiver—a policy that could provide immediate relief to millions. Simultaneously, long-term strategies to double food production must be pursued with vigour, including investment in climate-resilient agriculture and strengthening rural security.

Moreover, accountability must be demanded of government agencies. It is unacceptable for a policy designed to alleviate suffering to be derailed by inter-agency inefficiencies. The National Assembly should exercise its oversight powers to investigate this failure and ensure such lapses do not recur.

The images of stampedes during food palliative distributions, resulting in dozens of deaths, are seared into the national conscience. They are a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction. Every missed policy deadline, every bureaucratic delay, translates into empty stomachs, lost lives, and shattered hopes.

Nigeria’s leaders must remember that governance is not about grand promises but tangible results. As the nation braces for another year of economic hardship, the time for excuses has passed. Hunger knows no politics, and the failure to act decisively on food security will be remembered as a monumental betrayal of the Nigerian people. This crisis demands a shift from rhetoric to action.

It is not just food that Nigerians seek; it is dignity, hope, and the promise of a better tomorrow. This requires a multifaceted approach. Investing in modern agricultural technologies, providing access to credit and markets, and improving rural infrastructure are crucial for boosting domestic food production. Strengthening social safety nets, such as targeted food assistance programmes and conditional cash transfers, can provide immediate relief to vulnerable populations. Ensuring transparency in food distribution and holding government officials accountable for their actions are essential to rebuilding trust between the government and its citizens.

The question is not just whether their leaders will deliver but how effectively they will deliver. The future of Nigeria depends on it.