EMT to Take Decisive Action Against Agricultural Smuggling
The Federal Government has announced that the Presidential Economic Management Team (EMT) is preparing to implement a decisive strategy to combat the ongoing smuggling of agricultural products into Nigeria. This move is expected to bring stability to commodity markets and provide greater confidence for investors in the agricultural value chain.
During an investment inspection tour of farms and agribusiness facilities in Kaduna State, which was part of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, revealed these plans. The tour included visits to Olam’s processing facility, TMDK agro-processing plant, Tomato Jos, and a new quality assurance complex being built by Afreximbank.
Kyari emphasized that the government is working to strengthen market systems and regulatory infrastructure to ensure that domestic producers remain competitive, especially in the face of cheap, illegally imported goods. He highlighted that the issue of securing borders against illegal smuggling has been strongly brought to the attention of the presidential level.
A key component of the government’s strategy involves the establishment of a national quality assurance facility, supported by Afreximbank. This facility will certify Nigerian agricultural products for both domestic and export markets. Kyari described it as a seal of approval that will enhance product competitiveness globally and help address issues such as export rejections in international markets.
The Minister also noted a growing interest from investors in agriculture, driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security and food sovereignty agenda. He pointed to the increasing participation of young entrepreneurs and women-led agribusinesses as a positive sign of the sector’s vibrancy.
“We visited a young lady running a processing plant with a women farmer outgrower network. This demonstrates that people are not afraid to invest in agriculture, and confidence is growing,” Kyari said.
In addition to addressing smuggling, the administration is focused on reducing the cost of farming inputs, a major challenge for producers. Kyari also mentioned efforts to rebuild Nigeria’s strategic food reserves.
“We are going to tackle the price of inputs. Replenishing the strategic reserves will inject financial liquidity into the agricultural sector and support farmers to grow crops all year round, particularly during the dry season,” he explained.
Responding to concerns raised by the CEO of Tomato Jos, Mira Mehta, regarding the ban on liquid fertilizer imports, Kyari clarified that while the product has agricultural value, it also contains components that can be used in explosives. He added that the government is open to developing a policy framework that balances national security with the needs of farmers, especially horticultural growers.
With the EMT expected to announce measures to curb smuggling and stabilize markets, analysts believe this new policy direction could attract additional private sector investment and accelerate the expansion of Nigeria’s agro-industrial base.