Climate change, Ukraine war drive up food prices – FG

The Federal Government has attributed the surge in food prices to the impacts of climate change and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

According to reports, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, acknowledged that his earlier promise to reduce food prices within 180 days last year was hindered by unforeseen factors.

Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Friday night, Kyari also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic had further contributed to rising food costs across the country.

“Well, let me just put in perspective. When you look at prices, food prices across the nation, you have varying food prices. In some places, they’re low. In some places, they’re a bit higher. And when you look at generally around the neighborhood, what I mean around the neighborhood, I mean even around the countries around us, prices are extremely even higher than those that are in Nigeria. So, it’s a global thing that we’re experiencing. It’s all over. Prices of food have risen right from the impacts of COVID and the impacts of climate change, the Ukrainian war, and so on and so forth,” he said.

The Minister, who also explained that supply and demand law was also affecting food prices, assured that efforts were on to address high food prices in the country.

“So, I appreciate the concerns of many Nigerians. What government is trying to do here is actually to ramp up production. Now, when availability is there, but then prices are still high, it’s a case of supply and demand. You ramp up supply and demand stays the same and then the prices come down. So, I think that is the direction that we’re looking at,” he added.