Rising land prices and widespread land acquisitions are creating a critical squeeze on farmland, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and the country’s food security. Recent months have seen a sharp increase in farmland costs across Nigeria, raising concerns that smallholder farmers may soon struggle to access land for food production.

Otunba Oke Babafemi, Vice Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), highlighted the growing challenge, particularly in areas like Epe, where urban expansion is transforming former agricultural hubs into high-demand real estate. “The lands are becoming quite expensive, very, very expensive now,” he said, noting that an acre in Epe currently sells for N6 million.

Land values vary nationwide, with an acre costing anywhere from N2 million to N8 million, depending on location. For example:

• Atan, Ota, Ogun State: 2 acres sold for N3.6 million, double the price in 2018.
• Siun, Ogun State: N2.5 million per acre.
• Ijebu, Ogun State: N800,000 per acre.
• Paiko, near Abuja: 6 hectares sold for N6 million.

Industry expert Debo Thomas, CEO of Hastom Food & Farms Limited, explained that the rising prices are driven by limited land availability and growing demand. “Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, but its physical size is similar to Namibia, which has only about 2 million people. This creates immense pressure on available land,” Thomas said.

He also noted that international investors are increasingly acquiring land in Nigeria for large-scale agriculture and industrial projects, including teak and Malina plantations, as well as newsprint and paper production. “The demand for land is high, supply is limited, and foreign investments are intensifying the pressure,” Thomas emphasized.

If this trend continues, small-scale farmers may face mounting difficulties, potentially worsening rural poverty and food insecurity. Experts warn that immediate policy interventions are needed to protect farmland access and ensure sustainable food production in Nigeria.