A Nigerian agricultural economist has stressed that food security relies on robust production paired with improved infrastructure, as he urged better logistics and storage to drive sustainable growth and regional impact.
Economist Kamaaldeen Raji made the comment days after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Monday declared a national emergency on food security while opening the 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage in Abuja, urging expanded irrigation infrastructure nationwide.
This call comes as Nigeria grapples with a food security crisis, with 33 million people facing acute food insecurity in 2025, a number projected to nearly double, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.
In the capital Abuja, soaring food prices have further crippled local businesses, highlighting the urgent need for systemic solutions.
"The price has really gone up compared to before. I used to buy like half trailers of beans before, and each bag for 45,000, and I would sell them in less than two weeks. Now I can't even buy up to 50 bags and each bag of bean is now 105,000. With the increase in price now most people don't even buy like before," said Mohammed Sunusi, a beans trader with nearly 20 years of experience.
Raji attributes the country's food security challenges to deep-rooted structural issues.
"Food security is beyond production. It is ensuring that there is a balanced table for both production and consumption. So if we get it right at the right time, then we make it a system that we continue to grow over the years, we should be full sufficient as a nation," he said.
Economic hardship, record-high inflation, climate change, and ongoing violence in the northeastern states are seen as key factors exacerbating the crisis. Experts are urging long-term investment in storage, transportation, and collaborations with the private sector to address these challenges in a sustainable manner.
"We need to check infrastructure. And if we want to say the truth without mincing words, we'll say that there is a lot of [gaps] in infrastructure. And if I say infrastructure, I'm talking to storage and logistic wise. If all of these are matched together, and the government is playing their role very well, then we will be able to be food secure, and not just being food secure, we'll be able to even affect positively all the nations across our borders in Africa today," Raji added.
Nigerian expert sees key role of infrastructure after gov't declaration of national emergency on food security
Strong infrastructure key to lasting food security: Nigerian expert
