Nigeria food security: Producers and unions seek government intervention

Agricultural and labor organizations in Nigeria are calling for increased government intervention to combat rising food costs and supply instability.

The Tomato and Orchard Producers Association of Nigeria (TOPAN) has urged the Federal Government to take a more active role in food production, storage, and market management. TOPAN President Oyeleke Bolajo emphasized the need for a reliable agricultural database to improve production planning and suggested that the government purchase commodities directly from farmers to store and release during periods of low supply. The association also requested increased grants and incentives for smallholder growers to stabilize tomato prices.

Simultaneously, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has advised the government to maintain food importation policies until domestic insecurity is resolved. TUC President-General Festus Osifo warned that halting imports prematurely could cause staple food prices to spike, noting that insecurity has prevented many farmers from accessing their lands. The union highlighted that despite some macroeconomic stabilization, the cost of living remains a severe burden for households.