Nigeria's agricultural sector is grappling with a huge wheat production deficit, producing only about 420,000 tonnes annually against an estimated consumption of six million metric tonnes. This shortfall has left the country heavily dependent on imports to meet domestic demand. The country's two million to 3.5 million hectares of land with potential for irrigated wheat production have not been fully utilized.
The scale of the deficit was highlighted in 2024 when the Ukrainian government donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat grain to Nigeria as part of efforts to ease hunger and address food shortages. The donation, done through the World Food Programme (WFP), was meant to support 1.3 million vulnerable Nigerians grappling with the aftermath of conflicts in the North East and North West regions.
The official handover of the wheat donation took place in Abuja, with David Stevenson, the WFP's country director, expressing gratitude for the timely assistance. Stevenson noted that the wheat from Ukraine came at a better time, as vulnerable populations have been facing soaring food prices, hindering their access to essential staples over the past three months.
However, the donation is likened to a drop in the ocean as Nigeria is yet to achieve wheat sufficiency. The deficit is also straining bakers and confectioners, who are facing challenges such as multiple taxation, environmental levy, and noise pollution levy. Jude Okafor, the National President of Masters Bakers Association, complained that most bakers find it difficult to keep up with market demands due to high production costs.
Okafor added that the members of the association are yet to receive interventions from the government to remain in business. He emphasized that bread, cakes, and biscuits are staples in Nigeria and that the industry needs wheat to produce most of its consumption. John Nwajumogu, the Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, acknowledged the importance of wheat, saying that strengthening the wheat value chain means strengthening every link between farmers, millers, bakers, transporters, and families.
Nwajumogu outlined the government's plans to support the wheat industry, including coordination, capital, cost reduction, and tracking results. He emphasized that the biggest winners will be young people and women, who already run many bakeries, food stalls, and distribution networks. Minister of State for Industry, John Owan Enoh, acknowledged the potency of the country's mills but wondered why Nigeria lagged behind in wheat production.
Enoh added that all hands must be on deck to address the challenges, and that the unveiling of the Project WHEAT-NESS initiative is a step in the right direction. The initiative aims to address the challenges facing the wheat industry by working across five segments: upstream supply, industrial processing, downstream enterprise, the consumer market, and the finance and policy environment. The minister emphasized that competitiveness and affordability are not rivals, but one outcome, seen from two ends of the same chain.
Key points
- Nigeria produces only 420,000 tonnes of wheat annually against an estimated consumption of six million metric tonnes.
- The country's wheat deficit has left it heavily dependent on imports to meet domestic demand.
- The government has launched the Project WHEAT-NESS initiative to address the challenges facing the wheat industry.
