Nigeria has made significant strides in wheat production, achieving 10% self-sufficiency, with plans to increase this to 70% within the next five years. Dr. Oluwasina Olabanji, former executive director of the Lake Chad Research Institute, shared this at the West and Central Africa Wheat Collaborative Network summit in Abuja.
Olabanji highlighted the impact of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which saw national wheat production increase from 70,000 metric tons to 450,000 metric tons within three years. However, he noted that inconsistent policies slowed progress, although recent interventions from the African Development Bank (AFDB) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center have helped boost productivity.
Olabanji praised new high-yield wheat varieties like Bulog 100 and Noma, which average 4.5 to 6 tonnes per hectare. He emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to expanding wheat cultivation, with 250,000 hectares planned for the 2024-2025 season. The aim is to cultivate 500,000 hectares and achieve a 70% self-sufficiency rate in the coming years.
Dr. Toyin Adetunji, value chain specialist at TAAT, emphasized the broader regional efforts, supported by the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa initiative. With a goal to increase productivity across Africa, she cited successes in countries like Sudan and Ethiopia, highlighting the role of strong government policies in achieving self-sufficiency. Both experts stressed the importance of African nations becoming self-sufficient in wheat, particularly in the wake of global disruptions like the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
