Determined to make Nigeria self-sufficient in the production of wheat, the federal government has announced plans to reduce importation of the product by 50% as from 2015. Presently, Nigeria is said to be spending N635 billion every year on wheat importation. However, the government has promised to encourage and promote the crop in no fewer than 10 states in the north found to be suitable for its cultivation. Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute, LCRI, Dr. Oluwasina Gbenga Olabanji disclosed this in Abuja during the official presentation of 100 per cent Nigerian wheat bread to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. Olabanji, according to a statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Strategy to the minister, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, said “between now and 2015, Nigeria should be able to produce half of her wheat demand in the country.” He observed that “the demand for wheat at the moment is 3.7 metric tons”, expressing optimism that, “by 2015, we should be able to achieve 50 per cent of this national demand”. By achieving 50% of the country’s required wheat, the director explained that the move will reduce the cost of importation by 50 per cent. “We have the potentials to produce our own wheat. We have 600,000 hectares of land in this country that is suitable for wheat production, out of which only 10 per cent of land this area is utilised for wheat production. “But, with this agricultural transformation agenda, we have proposed, for 2013 to 2014, to cultivate 150,000 hectares of land in the wheat-growing areas. These are 10 states in the northern parts of the country”, he said. Olabanji referred to the earlier work done, saying “for wheat research in LRCI, we have done a lot of work on the genetic improvement of wheat in Nigeria”. “As at 1976, the average yield was 1.2 tons per hectare. But, with the launching of the wheat transformation agenda by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, we have been able to develop some improved varieties that can give us an average yield of 5 to 6 tons per hectare”, he stressed. This, he said, is expected to position Nigeria to produce what it requires as it expands its land holdings allocated to wheat production, and would boost the economy of the north. Earlier, the minister had commended the efforts of Olabanji and LCRI, pointing out that it is the first among other agricultural research institutes to bring up products of research to his office. “What Dr. Olabanji has just shown was that Nigeria’s comparative advantage is not to be in consumption but that we can produce even the things we are importing,” the minister stated, adding: “We will hold you up as an example for all the others, about how our agencies should work and help Mr. President”. Expressing the hope that, Nigeria will soon be self-sufficient in wheat production, Adesina said, “In most areas in the north like Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto States, we can produce wheat”. He, however, noted that Nigeria has not been doing well in wheat production, lamenting that “we spend N635million annually in importing wheat to the country”.
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