Nigerians may soon experience fresh shortages of rice, tomatoes and other staple foods if urgent steps are not taken to address insecurity, rising transportation costs and post-harvest losses, the President of the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA), Alexander Isong, has warned.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Isong said the country could face supply shortages over the next three months, a development that may further drive up food prices and worsen the burden on millions of households.
According to him, rice production is expected to decline significantly due to reduced farming activities.
“Rice is the big one. Production is projected to drop six per cent to 8.3 million tonnes. The area planted is down seven per cent to 4.2 million hectares. The United States Department of Agriculture confirms a five per cent decrease year-on-year. Tomatoes are another headache,” he said.
Isong explained that the drop in rice cultivation and lower tomato production could reduce the availability of these essential foods in markets across the country.
He added that the tomato shortage could continue until the late harvest season expected in October, while maize, sorghum and millet are also likely to come under supply pressure because of reduced planting recorded in 2025.
The agriculture expert also expressed concern over the rising cost of transporting food across Nigeria, saying it has become a major factor behind increasing food prices.
“Moving a tonne of grain from Kano to Lagos now costs ₦70,000. It used to be ₦45,000. On some routes, transport fares have doubled or even tripled. Energy is another killer,” he said.
He noted that onions and peppers are already in limited supply in major producing areas, resulting in sharp price increases.
Isong attributed the looming food shortage to several factors, including insecurity, declining agricultural production, poor storage facilities, supply chain disruptions and high logistics costs.
He said thousands of farmers have been displaced in parts of northern Nigeria, making it difficult for them to cultivate their farms.
“Insecurity in major food-producing areas must be addressed. Farmers cannot produce enough food if they are unable to access their farms safely,” he said.
He also stressed the need to reduce transportation costs by improving rural roads, expanding rail freight services for agricultural produce and strengthening food distribution systems across the country.
Although Nigeria recorded stronger agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the first quarter of 2026, Isong said the gains have not translated into improved food availability because of post-harvest losses and insecurity.
“Production gains are being offset by post-harvest losses, reduced planting and insecurity in producing communities. The result is that consumers may continue to experience supply shortages and renewed price increases for key staples,” he warned.
To prevent the projected shortages, Isong called for coordinated action involving the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector and development partners.
He urged authorities to improve security in farming communities, expand access to improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation and affordable credit before the next planting season.
He also appealed for greater investment in cold chain infrastructure, aggregation centres, processing facilities and produce markets, noting that Nigeria still loses between 30 and 50 per cent of its perishable agricultural produce before it reaches consumers.
“Nigeria produces enough food in many sectors, but too much of it is lost before it reaches consumers. If we reduce post-harvest losses, improve logistics, secure farming communities and support farmers, we can reduce shortages and stabilise food prices,” he concluded.
Source: NAN.
