Historical Assessment of Nigeria as Food-Importing Nation and the Multiplier Effects of the Ban on Rice Importation by Buhari’s Administration

Nigeria being endowed with both human and natural resources has the potential to produce sufficient food to feed her population. This was observed at independence, hence, various agricultural policies were embarked on by the successive governments. Unfortunately, the discovery of petroleum and the surplus money accruing from it made the successive administration paid lip service to agricultural sector. The implication of this is that Nigerian becomes food-import dependent nation, importing virtually most of the food that could be produced locally especially rice. However, with the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the president of Nigeria results in various measures to boost local food production so as to be self sufficient. To this effect, he ban the importation of food stuff into the country especially rice. It is the multiplier effects of this ban that this paper examines.