The Federal Government has attributed the increase in food prices to COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, claiming that bandit attacks on farmers have not had an impact on the nation’s level of food production.
Attacks on farmers have made it difficult to access farms in Nigeria’s north-west and north-central regions, according to the minister of agriculture, Mohammad Abubakar, but the government has deployed Agro-Rangers to increase security.
He claimed that the COVID-19 outbreak and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are to blame for the rise in food prices.
He said the insecurity is a concern for the government, but production has not dropped to any significant level.
“Truly, if they cannot completely access farms all over the country, you will expect a drop in production, but right now we are doing everything possible to make sure both production is maintained through that security provision.â€