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Nigerians could face fresh shortages of rice, tomatoes, peppers, onions and other staples within the next three months unless urgent action is taken to fix production and distribution.
The warning comes from Alexander Isong, President of the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa, OTACCWA, and Nigeria Country Director of the World Agriculture Forum.
He spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
The Numbers at a Glance -
60 Second Brief
Rice:
Production projected to drop 6% to 8.3 million tonnes. Farmland down 7% to 4.2 million hectares. The US Department of Agriculture also confirms a 5% year-on-year drop.
Tomatoes:
Supply to remain tight until late harvest in October.
Other staples at risk: Maize, sorghum and millet due to reduced planting in 2025.
Why it matters to you: Transporting one tonne of grain from Kano to Lagos now costs N70,000, up from N45,000. Some routes have doubled or tripled.
Why Is This Happening
According to Isong, it is not just about farming less. It is about losing more after harvest.
1. Insecurity on farms: Thousands of farmers have been displaced from major food-producing communities and cannot access their farms safely.
2. Transport and energy crisis: "Energy is another killer," Isong said. Bad rural roads and high diesel costs now account for a huge share of your food price.
3. Broken cold chain: Nigeria loses an estimated 30 to 50 percent of perishable foods before they reach the market due to poor storage and lack of cold-chain facilities.
Isong noted that even though agricultural GDP grew in Q1 2026, that growth is being wiped out by post-harvest losses and insecurity.
What Needs to Be Done Now?
To avert a full-blown scarcity, Isong called for coordinated action from federal and state governments, private sector and development partners.
His 5-point urgent fix:
Secure farming communities so farmers can return to their land
Fix rural roads and expand rail freight for farm produce
Cut logistics costs and improve distribution
Improve seed and fertiliser distribution and expand irrigation
Invest heavily in cold-chain infrastructure and storage
"This is not a problem that can be solved by one institution alone," he warned.
What This Means For Your Kitchen Budget
If supply stays tight, expect higher prices and less availability for jollof staples, especially rice and tomatoes, over the next 90 days. Now is a good time to plan bulk buying with cooperatives and watch local market trends closely.
What are you seeing in your area? Has the price of rice or tomatoes gone up in your market this week? How are you coping?
Drop your experience in the comments below. Your story helps other readers.
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