Dons EzeHARDSHIP: 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.
FOOD PRICES RISE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 18 MONTHS – FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION
FOOD PRICES RISE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 18 MONTHS – FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANISATION The Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, has said global food prices rose in October to their highest level in 18 months. The organisation said there was a sharp increase in the cost of vegetable oil. The FAO Food Price Index tracks monthly changes in international prices. It said the prices of food commodities reached 127.4 points last month, a two-percent increase from September. This was sald to be the highest since April 2023 but still 20.5 per cent lower than the peak reached in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of agricultural powerhouse, Ukraine. Vegetable oil prices increased by 7.3 per cent in October, reaching a two-year high due to lower production. Sugar prices rose 2.6 per cent, dairy was up 2.5 per cent and cereals gained 0.8 per cent. Meat was the only commodity to fall, down 0.3 percent from the previous month.
REPORT REVEALS THAT 133.1 MILLION NIGERIANS WILL BE ON HUNGER CRISIS IN 2025
REPORT REVEALS THAT 133.1 MILLION NIGERIANS WILL BE ON HUNGER CRISIS IN 2025 The Cadre Harmonisé report on food and nutrition insecurity analysis said no fewer than 133.1 Nigerians would face a global hunger crisis in 2025. The Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, disclosed this in a statement yesterday. It said the report was prepared by the federal government and supported by partners, such as the World Food Programme, WFP, and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF, among others. The statement read: “The food and nutrition insecurity analysis, Cadre Harmonisé, led by the government of Nigeria and supported by partners, alerts on the deterioration of food security in Nigeria, with 133.1 million people expected to face high levels of food insecurity in the next lean season (June-August). “It is an alarming seven million people increase from the same period last year, driven by economic hardship, coupled with record high inflation, impacts of climate change and persistent violence in the northeastern states. “Nationally, the number of people experiencing emergency levels (Phase 4) of food insecurity is projected to increase. While no populations have been classified as catastrophe (Phase 5), populations experiencing emergency (Phase 4) are anticipated to increase from 1 million people in the peak of the 2024 lean season to 1.8 million people at the same period in 2025, representing an 80 per cent increase. “Approximately 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition or wasting from six of the most affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in the northeast, as well as Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara in the northwest. ”Of these, an alarming 1.8 million children could face severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and require critical nutrition treatment. “Drivers of food security in Nigeria grapple with several factors that continue to exacerbatethe food insecurity situation, namely economic hardship, coupled with record high inflation (which reached 40.9 per cent for food, and 34.2 per cent for all items in June 2024).” Speaking at the presentation of the report, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Temitope Fashedemi, who was represented by the Director of Nutrition and Food Security, Dr Nuhu Kilishi Mohammed, underscored the significance of the Cadre Harmonisé during the presentation, which recommended that the results be adopted for planning and implementation of food and nutrition security interventions across federal ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, 26 Cadre Harmonise States, the humanitarian community and other partners in Nigeria. On his part, FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, expressed FAO’s continued commitment to supporting Nigeria. “Working closely with our partners, FAO is dedicated to implementing durable solutions that tackle the underlying causes of food insecurity and malnutrition. ”By enhancing agri-food systems, we strive to meet urgent needs, while promoting long-term, sustainable progress for communities”, Kouacou said. Highlighting the longstanding issue, the Country Director, World Food Programme, WFP, David Stevenson, said: “The hunger crisis in Nigeria, fuelled by the ongoing conflict in the northeast, needs urgent addressing. ”Restoring peace in the northeast is critical for us to build pathways to production and achieve the northeast’s potential as the food basket of the country.” UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, emphasized the urgent need for action.Munduate said: “Children are at the center of the food insecurity crisis and face irreversible consequences, both physical and cognitive, and potentially even death. ”It is our moral imperative to ensure that the right of every child to adequate food and nutrition is upheld.” Consequently, the United Nations urged the federal government, donors and stakeholders to commit resources and implement measures to avert a potential food and nutrition disaster, emphasizing the need for immediate multi-sectoral support across the nation.
MBAKA DECRIES RISING COST OF LIVING, CALLS FOR PRAYERS
MBAKA DECRIES RISING COST OF LIVING, CALLS FOR PRAYERS The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has decried the rising fuel prices in Nigeria, while calling for urgent prayers to prevent a potential famine. During the commissioning of a new filling station, Blessed Omemma Oil and Gas Limited, in Abakpa, Enugu East Local Government Area, Mbaka pointed out that the country is already facing hunger and if the situation is not addressed, it could lead to a famine crisis. He urged the government to take immediate action to tackle the fuel price increase and emphasized the need for collective prayer to find a solution. The cleric also advised Nigerians to invest rather than keeping their money in banks, pointing out the money will continue to depreciate. “We need more prayers for Nigeria to be well, what we are facing now is hunger, but if we’re not careful, we could face famine. “I encourage people to invest their money wisely; don’t leave it in the bank where it will keep devaluing,” Mbaka said. He further remarked, “The government knows what they need to do about the fuel hike. One solution from them can overcome these toxic situations, and that’s why I emphasize the power of prayer.”
MANY PEOPLE IN THE NORTH CAN’T AFFORD A SINGLE MEAL A DAY – AREWA GROUP
MANY PEOPLE IN THE NORTH CAN’T AFFORD A SINGLE MEAL A DAY – AREWA GROUP The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) on Saturday decried that many people in the North cannot afford a single square meal per day as a result of the lingering insecurity and socio-economic hardship plaguing the region. The groups disclosed this in a one-day community engagement held in Katsina state. The theme of this engagement is: “Imperative of Popular Participation in Tackling Socio Economic Challenges Bedeviling Nigeria Through Community Solutions.” The National Coordinator of the Coalition Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi told reporters that insecurity in the Northern Region is walking with its two legs hence the need to find a lasting solution to the problem. According to Charanchi, the time of lamentation is over as virtually all Nigerians know that the country is in a serious problem. His words: “People can no longer afford three square meals. We are not even talking about the three-square meals, people cannot afford a single square meal per day. “Insecurity is walking with its two legs in the North. So, these are the reasons we have seen, and we have come to realise that, the leaders are not even ready to address the problems and to some extent, not only the leaders but even ourselves we have a contribution to do so that at least we can get ourselves out of this quagmire.” Charanchi while talking about corruption in the country believed that all the problems facing Nigeria ranging from corruption, insecurity, economic hardship, and dilapidation in the infrastructure in the education sector, and health sector among others show there is a crisis of leadership. “In as much as we can get it right, we can get the right leaders, we can get the leaders that have the country at their heart, we can get the leaders that have human feelings, we can get the leaders that act like messengers of God, we can get the leaders that will treat this country as they are going to treat their family definitely, we will get it right. “It’s very unfortunate we don’t have leaders in this country. All we have in this country are politicians and the problem with politicians. They always care about how to secure the next election. But a true leader cares about how to secure the next generation. “It’s a waste of time to call on leaders to change because I doubt much if our leaders have the fear of God. I doubt much if our leaders believe there is something we call hereafter, I doubt much if our leaders have something we call humanity, and I doubt much if our leaders believe that service to humanity is a service to God. “We have self-centred leaders that believe in enriching themselves and looting the treasury. “So, the only solution is to let the community come together to believe that we are the government not somebody as the government, and let’s get it right from our constituency,” Charanchi added.
NIGERIA LOSES 855,629 METRIC TONNES OF FOOD TO FLOODS IN 2024 – FAO
NIGERIA LOSES 855,629 METRIC TONNES OF FOOD TO FLOODS IN 2024 – FAO The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has estimated a loss of 855,629 metric tonnes of food to the 2024 floods. This figure according to the FAO represents an amount equivalent to feed 8.5 million Nigerians for the period of six-months. FAO assistant country representative, Salisu Mohammed at an event to mark the 2024 World Food Day in Abuja yesterday, outlined climate-related crises, inflation, insecurity and economic situation as the key factors that have taken a toll on agricultural productivity and farmers’ livelihoods. The theme of this year, “The Right to Foods for a better life and future” with a call for governments and private individuals to recognise the hardship and empathise with vulnerable populations who face unique challenges in accessing adequate and nutritious food. While the FAO acknowledged the federal government drive towards food security, the organisation warned that these food adversities could persist unless the country worked with stakeholders to address the challenges. The organisation called for a holistic approach including government, private sector, civil society, and local communities to provide an enabling environment for production and equitable access to safe and nutritious diets for all through its agrifood systems policies and programmes. Federal government has hinted at a plan to step-up wheat production to 750, 000 metric tonnes in the upcoming 2024 dry-season farming. The target surpassed the 500,000 metric tonnes of wheat earmarked for the 2023-2024 dry-season farming. Minister of state for agriculture and food security, Sabi Abdullahi who addressed journalists on the occasion of the 2024 World Food Day in Abuja yesterday said that the idea was to increase wheat production to reduce import dependence and enhance food security. The minister who acknowledged the current challenges facing food production, reiterated the federal government commitment to addressing food accessibility, availability and sustainability. Abdullahi urged Nigerians to take an active role in tackling food insecurity and emphasised the importance of continued international cooperation to address Nigeria’s food challenges. He said, “I want to call on governments at all levels, international organisations, private sector, civil society organisations and the general public to work together to bring the food crisis and hunger to the top of the global agenda and invest in short, medium and long-term solutions that will provide everyone with enough food to eat. I urge all and sundry to get involved by educating ourselves about global food challenges and food insecurity. Let us advocate for policies and initiatives that address hunger, food waste, and sustainable farming practices at the local, national, and international levels. Let us be mindful of those facing hunger and malnutrition and take urgent steps to reduce food loss”
HUNGER NOW FAMILY MEMBER OF MANY NIGERIAN HOUSEHOLDS – PETER OBI KNOCKS TINUBU GOVT
HUNGER NOW FAMILY MEMBER OF MANY NIGERIAN HOUSEHOLDS – PETER OBI KNOCKS TINUBU GOVT Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has blasted the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over the increasing poverty and acute hunger in Nigeria. As Nigeria joined other countries of the world on Wednesday to mark this year’s World Food Day, Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, in his message said that the situation in Nigeria has become so terrible that hunger has now become a member of Nigerians’ households. Obi said that Nigeria’s current struggle with food crisis and hunger is saddening, considering the richly blessed and vast arable lands with which the country is endowed as a nation. Lamenting the soaring prices of food items in the country, Obi said that in the past, he used to lament that the majority of Nigerian households spent most of their income on food alone, sparing none for savings and other critical exigencies but it is heartbreaking to note that most Nigerian households are currently no longer able to afford sustenance food with their income. He said, “Today, the world marks World Food Day, a very significant global event that raises awareness about the issues of hunger and food insecurity and serves as a reminder of the need to commit to food security and fight hunger to a standstill. “This global observance is particularly important to us in Nigeria, where food prices are skyrocketing every day, and basic food items are becoming unaffordable to most people. “Severe hunger has now become an unfortunate member of many households in Nigeria – the once giant of Africa, a nation that has the most arable land in the continent. “Nigeria’s struggle with a food crisis and hunger today is saddening, considering the richly blessed and vast arable lands with which we are endowed as a nation. “In the past, I used to lament that the majority of Nigerian households spent most of their income on food alone, sparing none for savings and other critical exigencies. “Today, it is heartbreaking to note that most Nigerian households are no longer able to afford sustenance food with their income. “Food prices are soaring , food inflation is skyrocketing, the food crisis is worsening by the day, and hunger has graduated to a national crisis.” Obi further said, “In a Food Security Update Report released last week, the World Bank likened Nigeria’s worsening food security crisis to war torn countries like Yemen, noting that we have a significant rise in the number of people facing acute food shortages and an epidemic of hunger. “Today, the Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria among the 20 most hungry nations in the world. In August 2024, it was reported that more than 31.8 million Nigerians were acutely short of food due to security challenges and the removal of fuel subsidies. “It was also reported that 15.6 million children in Nigeria were facing hunger.” According to him, “The United Nations predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 percent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030 if the government fails to tackle the menace of food insecurity. “The domestic food inflation in Nigeria remains among the highest globally, with food prices increasing by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024. “I believe these reports, sad as they are, only paint a lenient picture of the severity of the food crisis and hunger in reality. “Over the years, I have maintained that moving the country from consumption to production remains the surest way of combating food insecurity and pulling the nation out of the present food crisis. “I have equally stated, unequivocally, that the greatest asset our nation has is the vast uncultivated lands in…
NIGERIA FACING WORSENING FOOD CRISIS LIKE YEMEN, ETHIOPIA – WORLD BANK REPORT
NIGERIA FACING WORSENING FOOD CRISIS LIKE YEMEN, ETHIOPIA – WORLD BANK REPORT The World Bank has stated that Nigeria is facing a worsening food security crisis, with over one million additional people experiencing severe food insecurity in 2024 compared to the previous year. This was contained in the World Bank’s Food Security Update Report released recently while highlighting that countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia and Yemen have seen a significant rise in the number of people facing acute food shortages. “Conversely, some countries saw improvements. Nations such as Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Kenya reported declines in food insecurity, with more than one million fewer people facing acute food crises, although these countries remained in significant food crisis situations. “On the other hand, 18 countries experienced worsening situations due to factors including intensified conflict and climate-related shocks, such as droughts. Notable examples include Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Yemen, each witnessing an increase of more than one million people facing high levels of food insecurity from the previous year,” the report read. Nigeria’s growing crisis is said to be a combination of climate-induced issues and socio-political instability in various regions, the report noted. “In Nigeria, an estimated 1.6 million hectares of land have been inundated, including 342,650 hectares of cropland, affecting 685,770 vulnerable individuals. In Mali, 344,000 people were affected and 1.6 million hectares of land flooded, including nearly 500,000 hectares of cultivated landland. “Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo have also faced flooding, and northern and northeastern Nigeria and Ghana are experiencing dry spells, with adverse effects on crop production and thus food insecurity. “In total, floods and droughts have affected approximately 3.5 million people, who require emergency support. It is estimated that $50m is needed to help 760,200 communities meet their basic food needs.” According to the report, domestic food price inflation in Nigeria remains among the highest globally, with food prices increasing by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024. This price surge has strained household incomes, making it increasingly difficult for low-income families to afford basic food items. Meanwhile, the World Bank called for urgent intervention to address the immediate food needs of affected populations while also focusing on long-term solutions to improve resilience against climate shocks.
PRICES OF RICE, BEANS, EGG, BREAD STILL HIGH – NBS
PRICES OF RICE, BEANS, EGG, BREAD STILL HIGH – NBS At the backdrop of significant reductions recorded in the prices of some food commodities since last month, the prices of local rice, beans, egg and bread have remained on steady increases. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in its report titled, “Selected Food Price Watch for August 2024” released yesterday, said, the commodities recorded between 2.5 and 5.5 percent price rises in the month of August. The report stated: “The average price of 1kg beans brown (sold loose) stood at N2,574.63. This indicates a 5.31 percent rise in price on a Month-on-Month, MoM, basis from N2,444.81 in July 2024. “On a MoM basis, the average price of Agric eggs medium size (12 piece) rose by 5.48 percent to N2,289.19 from N 2,170.17 in July 2024. “On a MoM basis, bread (sliced) increased by 2.28 percent to N1,459.85 from N 1,427.25 in July 2024. Furthermore, the average price of 1kg Local rice sold loose went up by 3.65 percent to N1,831.05 in August 224 from N1,766.64 in July 2024 on a MoM basis.” According to the Bureau, the prices of these food items increased by over 100 percent year-on-year. It added: “The state profile analysis in August 2024 reveals that the highest average price of 1kg of Beans Brown (sold loose) was recorded in Akwa Ibom at N3,276.79 while the lowest was in Adamawa state at N1,710.92. The highest average price of Agric eggs medium size (12 piece) was recorded in Niger State at N2,996.92 while the lowest was in Jigawa State at N1,786.01. “Regarding the average price of bread (sliced), Rivers state recorded the highest price at N1,850, while Yobe recorded the lowest price at N908.81. Kogi recorded the highest average price of 1kg local Rice (sold loose) at N2,680.29, while the lowest was reported in Benue at N1,206.84.” However, the Bureau also said the prices of tomatoes and yam declined MoM in August when compared to that of the previous month. The NBS said that the price of tomato 1kg declined by 11.07 percent MoM to N1,506.35 from N1,693.83 in July 2024. It added that the price of 1kg of yam tuber decreased by 7.8 percent to N1,661.80 from N1,802.84 in July 2024.
PRESIDENT TINUBU FAILS TO IMPLEMENT TARIFF WAIVER AS FOOD PRICES REMAIN HIGH
PRESIDENT TINUBU FAILS TO IMPLEMENT TARIFF WAIVER AS FOOD PRICES REMAIN HIGH Despite the National Bureau of Statistics inflation data for July and August which showed food inflation eased to 39.53 and 37.52 percent, market realities showed that the prices of food and goods remained high.A market survey shows that a 50-kilogram bag of local or foreign rice is sold between N87,000 and N106,000.This is as a 50kg bag of beans goes for between N65,000 and N100,000. For the majority of Nigerians, access to staple food has become a nightmare, a situation that would have been reduced with the implementation of the zero-tariff waiver on selected food items.Speaking on the development in an interview on Monday, the Executive Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf said the major problem was the slow pace with which the government was implementing the zero tariff policy.According to him, there was a big lag between the announcement of the policy by the government and the preparation of the guidelines for its implementation.He stressed that the tariff waiver had not been fully activated as the impact was yet to be felt in the country’s economy.Yusuf urged the government to work on the speed of implementation of the policy.“The customs must implement the policy. The customs need to be advised by the ministry of finance, and until that is done, implementation cannot start.“I think it has to do with the speed of the implementation of the policy. When the Government announces a policy, the ministry ought to work on the guidelines, which are transmitted by the ministry of finance to the customs. I think there is a lag between the announcement of the policy and the production of the guidelines.“The policy has not been fully activated which is why the impact is not felt. This is because all the processes in terms of guidelines are a bit slow. The government needs to work on the speed of implementation”, he saidOn his part, Olufemi Kayode, a member, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, and Special Assistant to Prince Adewusi Bamigbala, the Chairman of ANLCA, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command Chapter, faulted Customs, noting that there was yet to be a clear-cut and proper guideline for the implementation of the zero tariff policy.He stated that there was the possibility of internal sabotage and frustration within the Customs that may be undermining the implementation of the tariff for the good of the generality of Nigerians. “Generally speaking, from the circular available there are no clear-cut directives apart from the fact that some of the tariffs were mentioned.“There are no proper guidelines for its implementation. The Customs must put it into proper perspective.“There is the possibility of internal sabotage or frustration in getting the implementation right.“Customs may be having internal challenges about the proper classification or coding of the tariff waiver into its portal”, he said.Meanwhile reacting to the development, in an exclusive chat, NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada said it was untrue that the service was sabotaging the implementation of the zero-tariff waiver policy on selected food items.According to him, the Service had told Nigerians the procedures for accessing the tariff waiver.He added that the NCS was committed to all policies formulated by the government to ease the economic hardship Nigerians faced.“Well, we have issued a statement earlier and we told Nigerians procedures of accessing the tariff waiver.“It is malicious to say Customs is sabotaging the implementation of the policy.“We are a responsible government agency. We are out to implement all policies formulated by the government.