Food Crisis: Reclaim Farmlands From Criminals

On Monday, July 8, 2024, the Federal Government took a significant step to combat hunger by suspending tariffs on the importation of staple food items. This strategy aims to increase the availability of foreign-produced rice, wheat, maize, beans, and other commonly consumed food items in Nigeria. The duty-free importation window is set for 150 days, effectively lifting the embargo on food imports through the country’s land borders, which had been in place since the era of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

While the new strategy is still being developed, we commend the government for this necessary action to address the widespread hunger affecting the nation. Many Nigerians have been struggling to make ends meet. The food crisis in Nigeria is not solely due to the removal of petrol subsidies and the devaluation of the Naira. It is also exacerbated by the scarcity of food items, driven by socio-economic issues and ineffective government policies.

Recent trends in crop production have foreshadowed the current food crisis. Data from Statista shows a significant decline in agricultural production since 2022, after reaching a growth rate of about 3.87% in the fourth quarter of 2021. The growth rate plummeted to 0.9% in the first quarter of 2023, a stark contrast to previous years: 3.29% in 2019, 2.38% in 2020, 2.31% in 2021, and 3.16% in 2022. Although there was a slight increase to 1.5% in the second quarter of 2023, the country has not recovered from the decline, as government strategies have not been effectively implemented.

The primary cause of this decline in crop production is the activities of bandits. Nigeria has the potential to be self-sufficient in food production, but bandits have driven millions of farmers from their lands. In states like Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna, bandits have disrupted the cultivation of essential crops such as rice, maize, and beans. The North-Central states of Benue, Plateau, and Niger, known for yam and maize production, have also been affected by bandit raids. These criminals have not only seized lands but also destroyed villages, imposed their own governance, and levied taxes on the remaining farmers. Efforts to resolve the crisis through dialogue and limited military operations have failed, leading to widespread food shortages and hunger.

In addition to bandit activities, failed government policies and poor implementation of agricultural strategies have hindered food production. In July 2023, after removing the fuel subsidy, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu promised to invest the savings in agriculture. He declared a state of emergency on food insecurity and outlined measures such as activating land banks, mechanization, and irrigation schemes. However, these measures have yet to be implemented a year later.

While importing food is a necessary interim measure, the government must also empower security agencies to reclaim lands from bandits. Force must be used to dispel the notion that certain areas are beyond government control. Reclaiming farmland is essential to addressing hunger, but it must be accompanied by providing improved seedlings, fertilizers, herbicides, and other inputs to boost food production. The Tinubu administration must prioritize reclaiming all lands to ensure food security. We must confront and defeat the bandits to overcome this crisis.

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