ECONOMY
Maize farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are set to release about 300,000 metric tonnes of maize which watchers believe will reduce the current price of maize.
The huge supply boost according to stakeholders is aimed at inducing a decline in the price of the commodity to N120,000 per metric tonne from the current price of N155,000 per metric tonne.
The planned release follows moves made by the critical stakeholders, working with relevant government and security agencies, to put a halt to reprehensible and speculative activities of middlemen and bandits respectively.
With the release of 300,000 metric tonnes in February 2021, it is expected that the prices of maize in the Nigerian market will drop significantly, thereby increasing demand for the crop and ultimately enhancing the gains of maize farmers. Prior to the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Custom Service collaboration, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of 300,000 tonnes of maize from the National Strategic Grain Reserve to support the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) at a subsidized rate.