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In response to escalating food inflation, the Nigerian Federal Government is contemplating the approval of paddy rice importation for millers via an Executive Order. This measure is part of a broader strategy to address the country’s food security crisis, as outlined in the recently submitted draft Accelerated Stabilization and Advancement Plan (ASAP) by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. The ASAP document, delivered to President Bola Tinubu, recommends several executive orders aimed at mitigating current economic challenges.

These include actions to reduce inflation, generate employment, promote non-oil exports, ensure prudent financial management, and consolidate tax information. The document’s recommendations for tackling inflation include: Additionally, the plan emphasizes supporting individual and commercial farmers by proposing immediate approval for the importation of rice and maize seeds. Specifically, it suggests importing 10,000 metric tons (MT) of rice seeds to cover 100,000 hectares and 10,000 MT of maize seeds to cover 500,000 hectares.



The goal is to onboard two million farmers across four value chains to enhance productivity and sustainability. However, this proposed plan appears to conflict with President Tinubu’s earlier stance on food imports. Earlier this year, the President declared his administration’s intention to minimize food imports, aiming to transform current challenges into future opportunities.

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