Dons EzeSTOP EATING HOT RICE, IT MAY TRIGGER RISE IN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS – NUTRITIONISTS
STOP EATING HOT RICE, IT MAY TRIGGER RISE IN BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS –NUTRITIONISTS Some registered dietician-nutritionists have frowned at the habit of eating rice while it is hot, warning that it could lead to the rapid release of glucose into the bloodstream and trigger a rise in blood sugar levels. The nutrition experts explained that hot rice had a high glycemic index, and when consumed by diabetics causes raised blood sugar also known as hyperglycaemia, which could result in uncontrolled diabetes and damage to the nerves and blood vessels. According to the World Health Organisation, diabetes is a non-communicable disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use it. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. It further notes that hyperglycaemia, also called raised blood glucose or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. Speaking further, the nutritionists stated that eating large quantities of hot rice could overwhelm the insulin required to metabolise the sugar produced by the rice, potentially resulting in ill health. They also maintained that while nutrition and diet were largely dependent on individual preference, certain foods were recommended to be at certain temperatures before consumption. In exclusive interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, the dieticians advised that rice should be eaten while still warm and not cold to avoid it becoming a breeding ground for bacteria like Bacillus cereus which could cause food poisoning. Speaking, a nutrition specialist with FHI 360, James Oloyede, stated that hot rice has a high glycemic index, which means it releases glucose into the body at a higher rate. He noted that this could cause a rise in blood sugar levels, asserting that it was unhealthy for persons living with diabetics. The Senior Technical Advisor on Nutrition said, “Hot rice contains a high glycemic index, which means that the rate at which it releases glucose into the body is at a higher rate and that may not be too good for somebody who is diabetic.” Oloyede further noted that when rice was allowed to cool down, it became firmer and drier and built up resistant starch, which was healthy. Continuing, he said, “Resistant starch is very good and beneficial, especially, you know, as it slows down the rate of digestion and has a lower glycemic index, making it better for those who want to control their blood sugar level.” The former Director of Nutrition Services and Health Education at Osun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Osogbo, however, maintained that hot rice was best for immediate consumption to eliminate the risk of contamination and food poisoning, which could occur while waiting for it to get cold. The nutritionist further advised that food was better eaten when it was not too hot or too cold. For individuals with certain health conditions, Oloyede advised that they consult a dietician nutritionist who would prescribe the kind of food and at what temperature such food should be eaten. Speaking further, he said, “African diet is so good that most of our diets contain resistant starch, which, of course, is a form of a fibre that slows down our digestion. If people know how to mix their food, we shouldn’t be having issues that relate to food ill-health. We are trying to copy the Western diet that’s the reason we have a surge in non-communicable diet-related diseases in our country today, unlike before. “It’s not just only rice that contains this resistant starch. There are other foods that contain it naturally, like potatoes, if eaten potatoes when it is cold, there’s also some level of resistant starch that…
180 DAYS AFTER AGRIC MINISTER’S PROMISE, NO DROP IN FOOD PRICES
180 DAYS AFTER AGRIC MINISTER’S PROMISE, NO DROP IN FOOD PRICES Nigerians continue to grapple with food inflation despite the promise by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, that food prices would crash in 180 days. In July 2024, Kyari raised hopes with the assurance that strategic measures would be put in place to address the high food prices nationwide. According to him, some of the measures include the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes on food items such as maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas. He also promised that the Federal Government would import 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 250,000 metric tonnes of maize to be supplied to small-scale processors and millers across the country. To strengthen dry season farming and boost productivity, the minister assured Nigerians that the government would embark on aggressive agricultural mechanisation. These measures, calculated to calm food inflation in 180 days gave Nigerians a sense of hope that by the first week of January 2024, the prices of essential staples would have crashed. Food pricesUnfortunately, 180 days after the minister’s lofty promises and assurance, implementation of the measures is yet to be seen as food prices continue to soar. As things stand, a 50kg bag of rice sold for N85,000 when Kyari unveiled the measures now sells for over N100,000. Besides the agriculture minister’s yet-to-be fulfilled promises, the government had earlier highlighted other factors that hinder its efforts to control food inflation. In his last Monetary Policy Committee meeting, Yemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, identified “the rising cost of transporting farm produce; infrastructure-related constraints within the distribution network; security challenges in some food-producing areas; and the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the prices of imported food items” as some of the factors that the efforts to control food inflation. Meanwhile, as food inflation surged to 39.93% with Nigerians looking up to the government for immediate solutions, the Ministry of Agriculture has not offered any explanation as to why the measures it promised have not been implemented yet. Why govt failed – CSOs, farmers As Nigerians grapple with high food prices, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and farmers have reacted to the government’s promise to crash food prices in 180 days. Speaking with Vanguard on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, they pointed out that the government failed to put a whole lot of issues into consideration including insecurity, high prices of farm inputs, the exchange rates, high interest rates, flood impacts, holistic planning, and others. The Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Federal Capital Territory, FCT Chapter, Nkechi Okafor, asserted that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security had a very good intention to crash food prices but that lack of appropriate actions slowed the process. Okafor said: “I can clearly say that the Honourable Minister’s promise was made with the mindset of a better Nigeria. But unfortunately, a promise can’t be achieved if there are no effective actions in place. “Food prices cannot just go down overnight especially with the multiple taxation faced on Nigeria highways by transporters, which is just one out of numerous challenges faced by agricultural value chain actors in Nigeria. “Can farmers sell their produce at a loss just to fulfill a promise made by the minister? Your answer is as good as mine. Can a farmer risk his/her life to the farm amidst security challenges, which is more critical in some regions, to ensure such a promise is met? Your answer also is still as accurate as mine.” In his view, the Managing Director, EA Daniels Farm, Engr Daniel Ijeh, explained that one of the major causes of failure to meet the 180 days declaration by the Federal Government was…
FOOD CRISIS: FIVE MONTHS AFTER, FG YET TO IMPLEMENT DUTY WAIVER
FOOD CRISIS: FIVE MONTHS AFTER,, FG YET TO IMPLEMENT DUTY WAIVER Five months after the federal government announced a 150-day window for free importation of food items, the policy is yet to be implemented, Daily Trust learnt.The government had on July 8, 2024, announced the duty-free import window for food commodities so as to ensure a reduction in food inflation in the country.The window ought to have elapsed on December 31, 2024.The food commodities for which the duty waiver was meant include maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas.Since that announcement, neither the government nor the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has provided details on the implementation mechanism.In the third quarter of 2024, the Customs said the government might forgo N188.37 billion in revenue over the next six months due to the duty waiver granted on the importation of staple foods.The Comptroller-General of the NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, at that time said the country spent N3.82 trillion on importation of wheat, beans, rice and maize between 2020 and 2023.The Customs had also on August 14, 2024 said in order to participate in the import wavier, a company must be incorporated in Nigeria and have been operational for at least five years.It said the Ministry of Finance would periodically provide the NCS with a list of importers and their approved quotas to facilitate the importation of these basic food items within the framework of this policy.The implementation of the policy is suffering a delay amidst the rising inflation on imported food items in the country.The rise has been attributed to multiple factors, including the currency devaluation and the global supply chain disruptions.The average price of imported high-quality rice has surged by 144.77 per cent year-on-year.The recent report on the Consumer Price Index by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Nigeria’s imported food inflation surged to 42.29 per cent in November 2024, a significant rise from 23.74 per cent recorded in November 2023, representing a 55 percentage point year-on-year increase.According to the NBS, on a month-on-month basis, imported food inflation rate increased from 40.96 per cent in October 2024, a 1.33 percentage point rise in just one month.The data showed the continued rise in imported food inflation throughout 2024, which began at 26.29 per cent in January.Subsequently, by October, the inflation rate had crossed the 40 per cent threshold, and November’s figure of 42.29 per cent is the highest recorded in the past two years.Finance ministry responsible for importers’ identification – CustomsReacting in a chat with our correspondent yesterday, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Aliyu Maiwada, said it is the duty of the Ministry of Finance to identify importers.“The federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, is responsible for the policy formulation and identification of designated importers for the policy while the Nigeria Customs implements.“Therefore it is a gradual process and it is in progress,” he stated.The Director Press in the Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, declined comment on the issue when Daily Trust contacted him yesterday.Manga neither answered calls nor replied a text message sent to his mobile telephone line.Efforts by Daily Trust to get a comment from the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday were unsuccessful as the minister’s spokesman, Kingsley Osadolor, did not respond to phone calls and a text message sent to him.Hunger will worsen – ExpertA development expert at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Joseph Momoh, in an interview with Daily Trust yesterday, said unless the zero import duty is implemented, hunger would get worse in the country.“The waiver was expected to target low-income households. However, it is a new year and nothing has happened. By now, the window is expected to have closed, but unfortunately, we have not even started.“Food inflation continues to strain households,…
FG SIGNS MOU WITH JAPAN TO ENHANCE RICE PRODUCTION
FG SIGNS MOU WITH JAPAN TO ENHANCE RICE PRODUCTION The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, Niger State, has formalised a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to enhance rice seed production systems across Nigeria. The collaboration, cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), underscores a commitment to strengthening the nation’s agricultural development goals. As part of the agreement, NCRI will acquire state-of-the-art equipment for rice cultivation, production, testing, inspection, and post-harvest processing. These technological advancements will enable the institute to produce high-quality certified rice seeds, a critical component in addressing challenges within the rice production value chain. Strategic Impact on Nigeria’s Agriculture This partnership represents a strategic step in tackling inefficiencies in Nigeria’s rice production, with a focus on increasing yield and improving overall productivity. By boosting the availability of certified seeds, the initiative aims to support the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s objectives of achieving food security and self-sufficiency. A Shared Vision for Growth The MoU signing ceremony brought together key stakeholders from NCRI, JICA, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighting the collaborative spirit underpinning this initiative. Both organisations expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to revolutionise rice production in Nigeria. The partnership with JICA is expected to significantly contribute to modernising Nigeria’s agricultural sector, enhancing productivity, and strengthening the country’s position in the global rice market.
REDUCE FOOD PRICES, STRENGTH AGRICULTURE , CAN TELLS TINUBU
REDUCE FOOD PRICES, STRENGTHEN AGRICULTURE – CAN TELLS TINUBU The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged the federal government to strengthen the agricultural sector, reduce food prices, and address inequality. The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Wednesday in his Christmas message, urged Christians to reflect on Jesus Christ’s values and teachings, which provide hope, peace and guidance, especially during challenging times. He noted that this Christmas came with a mix of joy and sorrow for many Nigerians with the recent stampedes at charity events in Ibadan, Abuja and Anambra, where innocent lives were lost. “This Christmas comes with a mix of joy and sorrow for many Nigerians. The recent stampedes at charity events in Abuja and Anambra, where innocent lives were lost, have left us grieving as a nation. These heartbreaking incidents highlight the growing desperation among our people and the erosion of societal values such as patience, orderliness, and respect for one another. Christmas message by Governor Uba SaniDelays, overcrowding mar free train ride“For those grieving or injured, I urge you to find strength in the love of Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate. He is the source of our comfort and peace in times of sorrow and our guide to a brighter future. “The philanthropists involved in these events have, for many years, brought relief and joy to the less privileged during Christmas. Their intentions were noble, and their generosity is commendable and should not be discouraged in any way. However, this year’s tragedies remind us that as a society, we must revisit the values that bind us together. “Nigerians must learn to embody Christlike virtues, such as patience, empathy, discipline, and dignity, particularly in times of collective need. It is only by returning to these values that we can prevent such unfortunate occurrences in the future,” Okoh said. He said that these incidents also highlighted the urgent need for the government to prioritise food security, as the desperation witnessed reflected the harsh realities many Nigerians face daily. He said, “Our leaders must remain resolute in the fight against hunger and take decisive steps to ensure that no Nigerian is left hungry or in need. Strengthening the agricultural sector, reducing food prices, and addressing inequality must be at the forefront of governance. “As we commemorate the birth of Christ, let this Christmas inspire us to be agents of change in our society. Citizens must commit to fostering peace and orderliness in their communities. Leaders must act with compassion and wisdom to create a nation where every individual’s basic needs are met. And as individuals, let us strive to live out the teachings of Jesus by showing love, patience, and care to those around us,” Okoh said.
FG TO ESTABLISH RANCHES IN LAGOS, OGUN, IMO, OTHERS
FG TO ESTABLISHMENT RANCHES IN LAGOS, OGUN, IMO, OTHERS The new Ministry of Livestock Development will this year establish ranches in seven states across the Federation. Checks by revealed that two of the ranches will be in South west states of Lagos and Ogun while another two will be located in Imo and Cross River states in the south east and south south zones, respectively. Two North East states of Adamawa and Taraba will equally have ranches along with the North West state of Kebbi. The 2025 Budget further revealed that a total sum of N315m has been allocated to establish the ranches. Aside from the allocation for ranches, the new Ministry with a total budget sum of N11.8 Billion also made provision for poultry domestication farms in Delta, Abia and Bauchi states with a total sum of N150 million. The Ministry’s budget has an overhead component of N1,800,000,000 and capital component of N10 billion. A total sum of N600m has been allocated for provision of “Solar Powered in Livestock Production Communities in 30 Federal Constituencies of Nigeria. Curiously, it also has N50 Million as provision of solar powered street lights for grazing reserve. Further checks revealed that to address the mutual hostility between farmers and herders, the sum of N86 million has been allocated. According to the budget, N85million will be spent on Stakeholders engagement with Governors, traditional rulers, leaders of thought on farmers – herders conflict at federal and state levels. A total sum of N101m has been allocated for “establishments of Farmers and Herders Conflict Resolution Mechanism in Community, Ward, LGA, and State Levels. The New Ministry also made provision for N97million as total expenditure to ” Establish a performance management system platform to Track Staff Performance.” Checks also revealed that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration had last July approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development at the inauguration of the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House, Abuja. The committee was mandated to provide sector-focused solutions to address the age-long farmers-herders crisis. Recall that on September 14, 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee had recommended that Tinubu create a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to, among other deliverables, reduce the decades-long gory conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders nationwide.
FOOD PRICES RISE TO 60.88% UNDER TINUBU
FOOD PRICES RISE TO 60.88% UNDER TINUBUDespite securing multilateral loans amounting to $3.334bn (N5.178tn) and attracting over $4.3bn investments to boost food production, the cost of essential staple food items skyrocketed by 60.88 per cent under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu When Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, food inflation was 24.82 per cent. It jumped to about 40 per cent in November 2024. This is based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics. This is occurring as Nigerians are increasingly struggling to afford basic food items, with many households finding it difficult to make ends meet due to the sharp rise in prices. This stark increase in food prices stands in contrast to the government’s ambitious efforts to address food security and agricultural development, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current economic policies, the impact of inflation, and the challenges in translating financial support into tangible relief for Nigerians. Upon assumption of office in May last year, President Tinubu promised to prioritise food availability and security, stressing that the government would cultivate about 500,000 hectares of farmlands to combat hunger in the country. “I am well aware that for some time now, the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation, which is now above 28 per cent, and the unacceptable high under-employment rate. “To ensure constant food supply, security, and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet, and other staple crops”, Tinubu stated in his new year address amidst other commitments. However, the spiral increase in transportation costs occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidies, massive devaluation of the naira, and ravaging insecurity have fuelled a rapid increase in the price of all food commodities over 19 months. Data obtained from the Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics between May 2023, when Tinubu assumed office, and November 2024 showed that for 14 consecutive months, Nigerians spent increasingly more money each time they visited the market to buy food items. A breakdown showed that food inflation increased from 24.82 per cent in May 2023 to 25.25 per cent in June, 26.98 per cent in July, 29.34 per cent in August, 30.64 per cent in September, 31.52 per cent in October, 32.84 per cent in November and 33.93 in December 2023. By January 2024, the price of food items increased to 35.41 per cent and surged further to 37.92 per cent in February, 40.01 per cent in March, 40.53 per cent in April, 40.66 per cent in May, 40.87 in June, before witnessing a drop to 39.53 per cent in July and 37.52 per cent in August due to the harvest season. In September, the cost of food increased again to 37.77 per cent, 39.16 per cent in October, and 39.93 per cent in November, which is almost 40 per cent. Despite the challenging situation, checks by our correspondent revealed that the government secured loans totalling $3.334bn, an equivalent of N5.178tn from the World Bank and the African Development Bank under President Tinubu’s administration to enhance agricultural production, adopt innovative farming techniques, and increase food sufficiency for Nigerians. Analysis showed that $500m was approved by the World Bank for the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project to boost livestock production and food security nationwide. The Board of the World Bank Group approved a $500m loan to Nigeria last week Friday (December 13, 2024) to boost rural access and agricultural marketing in the country. According to information obtained from the Washington-based institution, the loan is for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project—Scale Up. It is designed to bridge the gap between rural communities and the broader…
AFDB, FARMERS HAIL FG’S AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS IN ANAMBRA, ENUGU
AFDB, FARMERS HAIL FG’S AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTIONS IN ANAMBRA, ENUGU The Federal Government has been commended for its interventions so far in ensuring that farmers, processors and other players in the agricultural value-chain under the “Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One” known as “ATASP-1”, are supported and encouraged to contribute to food security in Nigeria.Some farmers who have benefitted from the ATASP-1 project in Anambra and Enugu states on Saturday made the commendations when a delegation from Africa Development Bank, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Finance, Water Resources as well as ATASP-1, toured some project sites in communities located in Anambra and Enugu states.The rural farmers hailed the Federal Government’s interventions, saying,“With ATASP-1, the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on food for all will be achievable in no distant time.”In late 2020, the Federal Government, through the ATASP-1, awarded a contract for the concrete Lining of 22.45KM and 44.1km of Irrigation Canals in the Adani and Omor communities of Ayamelum Local Government axis of Anambra, which is a border town to Enugu State.The ATASP-1 authorities said the massive projects aimed to ensure dry season rice farming in the communities, thereby contributing to the Federal Government’s food security agenda in the country.The teams visited numerous project sites executed under ATASP-1 in communities such as the Adani and Omor axis of Anambra and Enugu states to evaluate the status and quality of projects and assess the impact of the numerous agricultural transformation programmes of the Federal Government being financed by the AfDB.During the visit to the communities on Saturday, the Zonal Coordinator of ATASP-1 in Adani-Omor Zone, Dr Romanus Egba, in his remarks, said the aim of the project was, “to give the farmers a sure means of survival by empowering them with capacity building, inputs support, as well as creating an enabling environment for increase food production with economic and social/ancillary infrastructures also provided to enhance their living standard”.The National Programme Coordinator of the programme, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, also added that ATASP-1 has proven to be a game-changer in the quest by the Federal Government to address food insecurity in the country.Arabi expressed joy with the outpouring of testimonies from beneficiaries of the programme in the Adani-Omor Zone. The AfDB Task Team Manager for ATASP-1, Dr Tobi Karikari, also expressed satisfaction with the achievements made so far by the FG through ATASP-1 both in the provision of infrastructure and empowerment for the farmers.Karikari, therefore, called on the farmers to put into proper use the facilities and knowledge gathered to enable them to contribute their quota towards building a greater society.In Adani, the team inspected the Double Span Obinna Bridge which connects the Ada Rice Irrigation Project farm command areas, feeder roads as well as recently completed canals which is already supplying water to the field for dry season farming.The team also visited the Modern Rice Market built by ATASP-1 at Adani as well as the Modern Cottage Hospital at Asaba, also in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.In Ayamelum, the team visited the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, LAIP’s pumping station at Ifite-Ogwari, as well as ongoing Canal Lining sites at Omor as well as completed access roads.The team also interacted with beneficiaries at Adani and Omor who took turns to testify on how the ATASP-1 trainings on Good Agronomic Practices, GAPs, and other supports had transformed their lives.A rice farmer from Omor community, Chief Obiora Mmuoneke, testified that with ATASP-1 training and support, he was able to build a six-room bungalow train three of his children to the university levels and expand his business.Another lead farmer in the area, Chief Cletus Obiora, while thanking ATASP-1, remarked that with the concrete lining and resuscitation of the irrigation system in the area, they…
NIGERIA SPENDS $480M ON IMPORTATION OF RICE ANNUALLY – NEPC
NIGERIA SPENDS $480M ON RICE IMPORTATION ANNUALLY – NEPC The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has revealed that Nigeria annually spent $480million on importing three tonnes of rice, describing the trend as “unacceptable.” This was disclosed by NEPC Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nonye Ayeni, during a one-day technical support workshop for rice farmers and processors in Lokoja, Kogi State. Represented by Mr Aliu Sadiq, Deputy Director of Policy and Strategy, Ayeni said the NEPC has initiated strategies to reduce rice importation by enhancing local production. “The attention being paid to rice production by NEPC is not misplaced as rice has become one of the major staple food items being consumed across the six geographical zones of the country and socio-economic classes,” she stated. Ayeni explained that Kogi was chosen for the workshop as it ranks the second-largest rice producer in Nigeria, with an annual output of 1.5 million metric tonnes. She urged farmers to adopt the skills and practices taught at the workshop. “The Nigerian government under the Renewed Hope Agenda has demonstrated its commitment towards achieving food sufficiency in Nigeria by addressing critical challenges facing farmers such as security, infrastructure, forex and inputs for increased production,” she added. NEPC Kogi State Coordinator, Usenide Aniekpeno, highlighted the importance of rice in Nigeria’s food security strategy. “Rice stands as both a cornerstone of our national food security strategy and a vital source of income for millions of Nigerians. Beyond serving as a dietary staple, rice holds immense potential to transform lives through its economic opportunities,” he noted. Victor Omifaiye, Director-General of the Kogi Commodity Exchange, outlined state government plans to assist farmers in accessing agricultural loans through NEXIM and the Bank of Agriculture. Femi Ajisafe, another contributor, stressed the need for government intervention in pricing farm products, saying, “A situation where buyers are dictating price to farmers will scare away Nigeria youths from farms.”
HARDSHIP: MANY NIGERIAN HOUSEHOLDS NOW SKIP MEALS
HARDSHIP: MANY NIGERIAN HOUSEHOLDS NOW SKIP MEALS – NBS The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said food scarcity, insecurity and high prices have forced Nigerian households to cut consumption. To this end, the body said 65 percent of families and other residents are unable to afford healthy meals over lack of money. NBS disclosed this in its latest General Household Survey Panel (Wave 5) report conducted in collaboration with the World Bank. The report said 71 percent of households were impacted by price increases on major food items, with food shortages affecting more than a third of households in the past year. These shortages, it noted, were most pronounced in June, July, and August, exacerbating the food insecurity crisis. The data further said 48.8 percent of households reported reducing their food consumption as a coping mechanism. “In the past 12 months, more than one-third of households faced food shortages, which occurred more frequently in the months of June, July, and August. “Price increases on major food items were the most prevalent shock reported by households, affecting 71.0 percent of surveyed households.” The report said the number of households worried about not having enough food to eat increased from 36.9 percent in Wave 4 (conducted in 2019) to 62.4 percent in Wave 5. According to NBS, the surge was due to an increase in food insecurity, with more than half of Nigerian families struggling to meet their dietary needs. “Approximately two out of three households (65.8 percent) reported being unable to eat healthy, nutritious or preferred foods because of lack of money in the last 30 days. “63.8 percent of households ate only a few kinds of food due to lack of money, 62.4 percent were worried about not having enough food to eat, and 60.5 percent ate less than they thought they should,” the report added. It further said 12.3 percent reported that at least one person in the household went without eating for a whole day and 20.8 percent of households had to borrow food or rely on help from friends or relatives. “In general, households in the southern zones report more incidents related to food security than those in northern zones. “For example, in the southern zones, the proportion of households reporting that they had to skip a meal ranged from 50.1 percent in South West to 62.4 percent in South East, while in the northern zones this share varied from 34.0 percent in North Central to 48.3 percent in North East.” NBS noted that residents in the south-south zone had the highest (most concerning) rate in five out of eight indicators of food insecurity. “In contrast, the data bureau said north-central had the lowest rate in six of the eight indicators”, it submitted.