Abuja: The U.S. Mission’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has partnered with the Federal Government to adopt innovative solutions aimed at enhancing agricultural trade for economic growth and food security. Mr Matthew Obogbaimhe, Chairman of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC), Kaduna Chapter, made this announcement at a roundtable on Thursday in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the roundtable, tagged ‘Innovative Approaches to Agricultural Trade for Economic Growth and Food Security,’ was organized by FAS in collaboration with NACC and the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG). The discussion focused on the impacts of Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions on food prices, local production, and investment. It also provided the U.S. Mission’s FAS with an opportunity to connect with policy advisers and push for reconsideration of restrictions on U.S. agricultural exports.
Obogbaimhe highlighted that revitalizing Nigeria’s agricultural sector required more than trade restrictions, emphasizing the need for innovation, sustainable practices, and investment in infrastructure. The partnership with FAS was driven by a vision to promote agricultural innovation and trade across Africa. He noted that the roundtable provided a unique platform to exchange ideas and explore innovative agricultural trade policies that benefit consumers and farmers in Nigeria and the United States.
Mr Christopher Bielecki, Agricultural Counselor for the FAS office in Lagos, stated that the forum enabled stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to strengthen agricultural trade, reduce costs for agribusinesses and consumers, and create prosperity for American and Nigerian farmers. He expressed optimism about continued collaboration with the Nigerian government and agribusiness stakeholders to translate the roundtable’s recommendations into action. Bielecki emphasized that by working together to advance innovative agricultural trade policies, the United States and Nigeria can foster greater food security, create opportunities for value-added processing, attract investment, and strengthen the agricultural sector.
NABG Director-General, Mr Jafar Umar, described the roundtable as timely and highly relevant to the national discourse on trade and food security. He expressed the group’s readiness to partner with FAS, noting that NABG remains the leading voice of agribusiness in Nigeria.
Dr Betty Adegebo, a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) research team, discussed the impact of Nigeria’s agricultural trade restrictions, which have resulted in higher food prices, increased informal trade, and inefficiencies in production. She noted that these restrictions have failed to achieve self-sufficiency. Presenting NIPSS findings, Adegebo highlighted that food inflation surged to 30.6 per cent in 2023, with staples such as rice and beef more than doubling in price over two years. She also pointed out production challenges, including an estimated maize production gap of 300,000 metric tonnes annually and low yields of 2.0 tonnes per hectare, far below South Africa’s 5.2.
Adegebo recommended reducing import bans and tariffs, adopting long-term predictable trade policies, harmonizing tariffs and sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and leveraging frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She called for the establishment of a centralized body to oversee agricultural trade regulations, improve official trade, strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary oversight, and boost government revenue.
NAN reports that the event was attended by Nigerian agricultural trade policy advisors, legislative representatives, agribusiness leaders, researchers, regulators, and U.S. agricultural trade associations.