The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed that approximately 30 million hectares of arable land in Nigeria remain unused. This revelation came during a visit from the President of the National Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria to Abdullahi’s office in Abuja.
Abdullahi highlighted that Nigeria boasts around 73 million hectares of arable land, yet only 41 to 43 million hectares are currently being utilized. This significant underutilization of farmland poses serious implications for food security, especially in light of rising food prices and seasonal shortages.
The minister emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues, particularly with the upcoming dry season. He stressed that the situation demands swift action to prevent food scarcity and its far-reaching consequences. Abdullahi’s concerns were echoed by NATPAN President Abdullahi Ringim, who called for the ministry to address the non-implementation of existing tomato policies and the detrimental effects of pests and rising transportation costs.