Activist Cautions Federal Gov’t Against Importation of Food Items
AbdulRazaq Hamzat, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro), has warned the federal government about the dangers of continued subsidized agricultural imports.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP in Ilorin, Kwara State, Hamzat criticized the policy, arguing that it is damaging Nigeria’s agro-industry, discouraging local investment, and driving the country toward food insecurity.
While the government celebrates the decline in food prices, Hamzat stated that the trend is artificially created by “cheap” foreign imports subsidized by other countries. This, he said, undermines local farmers and poses a serious threat to national economic stability.
“It is shocking that while other nations subsidize their agricultural industries to create jobs and sustain food production, Nigeria is doing the opposite by importing cheap food that destroys its own agriculture. This is a suicidal economic policy that must stop immediately,” he warned.
Hamzat emphasized that true progress lies in achieving food sufficiency through robust local production, not by relying on artificially low prices from foreign imports. He cautioned that if the current policy persists, Nigerian agriculture will be permanently damaged, leaving the country increasingly dependent on foreign nations for food security.
According to Hamzat, countries that export food to Nigeria heavily subsidize their own agricultural sectors, enabling them to sell their goods at artificially low prices. This has led to declining investments in Nigerian agriculture, as local farmers struggle to compete with the cheaper imports that are often priced lower than their production costs.
“While Nigerians might be enjoying cheaper food now, the long-term consequences will be disastrous. If these imports slow down or become expensive, Nigeria will be left vulnerable with no strong local production to fall back on, leading to a severe food crisis,” he warned.
