Since the beginning of 2025, food prices in Nigeria have been steadily dropping, bringing relief to millions of Nigerians who have struggled with the high cost of living and inflation.
Many citizens have expressed their gratitude, believing that their prayers have finally been answered after years of economic hardship.
However, in a surprising turn of events, farmers, particularly those from Northern Nigeria, have started complaining about the falling prices. This has raised questions about whether their concerns are justified or if they are simply upset about losing the profits they previously enjoyed.
During the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s borders were closed as part of an effort to encourage self-sufficiency in food production.
The government insisted that Nigerians must rely on locally produced food rather than imported goods. However, this policy led to widespread hunger and starvation, especially in the northern part of the country, where food shortages were severe.
While the policy was intended to boost local farming, it also created an opportunity for farmers and food marketers to exploit the situation. Prices of essential food items skyrocketed, making life difficult for ordinary Nigerians.
With the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government has reopened borders and allowed the importation of food. This decision has caused food prices to crash significantly in both the northern and southern parts of Nigeria. For many Nigerians, this is a welcome relief.
The high cost of food has placed immense financial strain on families, and the recent price drop has made it easier for people to afford basic necessities.
However, northern farmers are now expressing their dissatisfaction, claiming that the decrease in food prices is hurting them financially. Some argue that they can no longer make the same level of profit as before, and they fear that imported food will drive local farmers out of business.
But this situation raises a critical question: if Nigerian farmers were truly capable of feeding the nation, why did food prices remain so high during the border closure?
Many Nigerians believe that both farmers and food marketers took advantage of the border closure to maximize their profits at the expense of ordinary citizens. Instead of using the opportunity to increase food production and ensure a stable supply, they allegedly focused on making money. As a result, food prices remained high, and many Nigerians suffered.
Now that food importation has resumed, it has become clear that local farmers alone cannot meet the nation’s food demands. The drop in prices has exposed the flaws in the previous policy, showing that Nigeria still relies heavily on imported food to stabilize the market.
Given the current situation, many Nigerians are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue allowing food imports. They argue that the welfare of the people should come first and that access to affordable food is more important than protecting the profits of farmers and marketers.
 If Nigerian farmers want to remain competitive, they must find ways to increase their productivity and efficiency rather than relying on high prices to sustain their businesses.
The primary concern should be ensuring that Nigerians have access to affordable food. If local farmers can rise to the challenge and produce enough to feed the nation at reasonable prices, then reliance on imports can gradually decrease. But until then, food importation remains the best option for Nigeria to prevent food shortages and economic hardship.
