The conversation on Nigeria’s food security has increasingly centred on improving agricultural productivity, expanding financing for farmers and strengthening food supply chains. Yet, one critical factor often receives less attention than it deserves. The Bank of Agriculture (BoA)’s recent observation that energy poverty is constraining agricultural productivity offers an important perspective on the country’s persistent food inflation challenge.
Its observation came at a time when food inflation has risen to 17.52 percent on a year-on-year basis in June 2026, up from 16.96 percent in May, according to recent report from the National Bureau of Statistic (NBS), underscoring the need to look beyond short-term responses and address the structural issues driving food prices. Reliable energy is one of those issues. It is essential not only for production but also for irrigation, processing, storage and transportation across the agricultural value chain.
Millions of Nigerians still lack access to electricity, while thousands of farming communities continue to depend on costly diesel- and petrol-powered equipment for irrigation, processing and storage. The result is predictable. Farmers face higher production costs, processors operate below capacity, post-harvest losses remain high and consumers ultimately bear the burden through rising food prices.
We believe the BoA’s decision to develop a Clean Energy Access Framework is a welcome step towards addressing this long-standing challenge. Financing solar powered irrigation systems, cold storage facilities, mini grids and clean energy processing equipment has the potential to transform agricultural productivity while reducing operating costs across the value chain. Such investments can also help preserve perishable produce, improve farmers’ incomes and strengthen national food security.
However, financing alone will not solve the problem. In our opinion, the success of this initiative depends on strong government support and coordinated implementation. Rural electrification should no longer be viewed merely as a social intervention. It must become a strategic component of Nigeria’s food security agenda. Every major agricultural cluster should have access to reliable and affordable electricity capable of supporting modern farming and agro processing activities.
We also urge the federal government to expand investments in renewable energy infrastructure serving rural communities. Solar powered cold rooms, mini grids, irrigation systems and community processing centres should become priorities within agricultural development programmes. These investments will reduce post-harvest losses, improve productivity and lower the cost of bringing food to market.
Beyond infrastructure, government should strengthen access to affordable financing for clean energy technologies, encourage greater private sector participation and accelerate efforts to attract climate finance for agricultural projects. Removing barriers to the importation and local production of renewable energy equipment for agriculture would also encourage wider adoption among farmers and agribusinesses.
In our opinion, tackling food inflation requires more than temporary market interventions or emergency measures. It demands structural reforms that improve efficiency across the agricultural value chain. Reliable energy is one of those reforms. Without it, efforts to increase food production will continue to fall short of expectations.
The BoA has identified an important missing link between energy and food security. We believe this initiative provides government with an opportunity to rethink agricultural development from a broader perspective. By investing in clean energy solutions for rural communities, Nigeria can reduce production costs, minimise food losses, improve farmers’ livelihoods and place sustained downward pressure on food inflation. That is a goal worthy of urgent national commitment.
