Any nation that can’t feed itself only Independent in name – AfBD president, Adesina

President of the Agrican Development Bank (AfBD), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has kicked against the recent decision of the Federal Government to suspend duties and taxes on imported food commodities into the country.

The government recently took the measures to curb unbearable shortage of food and hike in prices of food items in the country.

Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, said duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas will be suspended through Nigeria’s land and sea borders for 150 days.

Kyari said the plan would ease the price hike of food items, adding that the government has adopted measures to be implemented in 180 days.

But in a statement on Saturday, AfDB said Adesina spoke at a retreat organised by the African Primates of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) in Abuja on Friday.

Speaking on the theme ‘Food Security and Financial Sustainability in Africa: The Role Of The Church,’ Adesina said the plan would only address short-term food prices hike in the country.

He said the policy might jeopardise the significant efforts and private investments made in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“Nigeria’s recently announced policy to open its borders for massive food imports, just to tackle short-term food price hikes, is depressing”, he said.

“Nigeria cannot rely on the importation of food to stabilise prices. Nigeria should be producing more food to stabilise food prices, while creating jobs and reducing foreign exchange spending, that will further help stabilise the naira”.

The AfDB president said Nigeria must not be turned into a food import-dependent country.

“Nigeria cannot import its way out of food insecurity. Any nation that cannot feed itself is only independent in name.”