The suspension of aid by USAID under President Donald Trump has had an unexpected outcome in Nigeria: a significant reduction in food prices. Despite the government’s efforts to claim credit, it’s clear that the previous administrations’ agricultural policies, including grants and subsidized machinery, didn’t yield the desired results.
So, what changed? It appears that foreign aid organizations like USAID were not just buying food for humanitarian purposes. Instead, they were allegedly hoarding large amounts of farm produce, allowing it to spoil, and creating artificial scarcity to drive up prices and worsen hunger. This claim is supported by U.S. Congressman Chris Smith’s accusation that USAID indirectly funded terrorist groups in Nigeria, particularly Boko Haram.
The Nigerian government and individuals benefiting from USAID have defended the agency. However, it’s evident that the real beneficiaries of USAID’s operations were not ordinary Nigerians, but a select few who profited from the artificial food crisis and insecurity.
With USAID’s market control disrupted, prices are finally adjusting naturally. Traders in northern Nigeria’s agrarian communities, particularly in the bean markets of Maiduguri, have seen the price of beans drop drastically from ₦65,000–₦70,000 per bag to around ₦23,000–₦27,000 within just two months. These figures are verifiable, and the logical conclusion is that without USAID’s interference, the market is stabilizing on its own.
Nigeria may finally break free from economic exploitation and develop a truly independent agricultural sector. As one observer noted, “Let the U.S. keep its aid money and invest it in its own economy. Nigeria is better off without it”.