***Put Kogi on Nigeria’s Food Map
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Food prices are tumbling across Kogi State, thanks to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s sweeping agricultural reforms, Commissioner for Information and Communications Kingsley Femi Fanwo announced Wednesday.
He said the governor’s hands-on support for farmers and a crackdown on hoarding have stabilized markets and brought relief to households battling high costs of living.
According to a recent survey, a 50kg bag of rice that sold for ₦85,000 in March now costs ₦62,000–₦65,000. Medium yams have plunged from ₦2,000 to ₦1,200, while a paint bucket of garri is down to ₦2,400 from ₦3,500. Maize and corn prices have also followed the downward trend.
“These changes are no accident—they’re the direct result of structured government interventions,” Fanwo said, highlighting programmes such as Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), massive seedling distribution, and new rural roads under RAAMP.
The commissioner emphasized that Ododo’s administration has also blocked attempts by middlemen to manipulate markets. “No one will be allowed to exploit Kogites through stockpiling. The state is closely monitoring markets to ensure food remains affordable,” he warned.
Fanwo revealed that over one million cashew and palm seedlings were planted this year alone—an investment expected to inject ₦100 billion into Kogi’s agro-economy within three years.
He added that Kogi’s growing agricultural clout has attracted partnerships such as Lagos State’s “Produce for Lagos” initiative, backed by a ₦500 billion agribusiness fund, which will source food directly from Kogi.
“Governor Ododo is positioning Kogi as a powerhouse in Nigeria’s food security strategy,” Fanwo said. “Our farms are driving prices down, creating jobs, and powering economic growth—Kogi is fast becoming the heartbeat of Nigeria’s food supply.”