‘Nigeria has the cheapest foods in West Africa’ – Governors

The Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) has said the country has some of the cheapest foods in West Africa.

Chairman, and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahaman AbdulRazak disclosed this in Abuja on Monday when he led his coleagues, Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Ahmed Ododo (Kogi), and lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo), on a visit to the minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

AbdulRazak noted neighbouring countries use Nigeria’s food to trade as they take Soya beans, among others, to get foreign exchange.

Abdulrazaq regretted that Nigeria could not achieve much with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme, which he described as challenging.

While maintaining that the trading is not bad, he said what needs be done is to ramp up production and increase yield per hectare so Nigeria can feed West Africa.

“We have noted that food in Nigeria is the cheapest in West Africa and our neighbours are using our food to trade. They are taking our soya beans and others to get foreign exchange,” he said.

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“We need to ramp up production and increase yield so we can feed west Africa, ourselves and export food.

“We could not achieve much with CBN Anchor Borrowers programme it was challenging. Food security is a one stop shop and we need to concentrate on what we are on for dry season farming.”

Kyari had informed the governors the aim is to increase production all-year round with the objective of driving down food inflation, create jobs, reduce poverty, engender growth and promote inclusivity.

He said: “We have noted that food in Nigeria is the cheapest in West Africa and our neighbours are using our food to trade. They are taking our soya beans and others to get foreign exchange.

“We need to ramp up production and increase yield so we can feed west Africa, ourselves and export food.

“We could not achieve much with CBN Anchor Borrowers programme it was challenging. Food security is a one stop shop and we need to concentrate on what we are on for dry season farming”.