Tackling Hunger in the Land

Obinna Chima writes on the need for President Bola Tinubu and his economic managers to introduce immediate measures to reduce the worsening hunger in Nigeria

The soaring cost of living has exacerbated hunger in Nigeria. The interesting thing is that hunger knows no tribe, religion or even political party as it traverses everywhere. With the rate at which the country is going, the situation may get worse as prices of food and other essential commodities continue to climb, since the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) rates.

As a result of the hunger in the country, just few days ago in Adamawa State, no fewer than five persons were feared killed as thousands of hoodlums invaded government and private warehouses in search of foods. It was reported that in what appeared like the #ENDSARS protest of 2020, the hoodlums broke into the warehouses and carted away food items including rice, noodles, seasoning, palm oil, among others. There were also reported cases of looting as well as protest in some states, even ahead of the nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) last Wednesday, due to the hardship and hunger associated with some of the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.

Increased cost of living means many households and firms are cutting back on essentials, with low income households most at risk. This leads to a fall in living standards and job losses.

Last year, Nigeria was ranked 103 out of 121 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index. The ranking showed that the nation “has a level of hunger that is serious.” The report, which ranks countries by “severity”, had given Nigeria a score of 27.3 – a hunger level falling under the “serious” category. Apparently, when the next report would be released this year, the country’s score would have worsened.

Earlier this year, even before the subsidy removal, the United Nations had predicted that nearly 25 million Nigerians were at risk of facing hunger between June and August 2023, if urgent action was not taken.

In its food and nutrition analysis on Nigeria, the 25 million predicted was supposed to be an increase from the estimated 17 million people currently at risk of food insecurity.

Continued conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices were identified as key drivers of the alarming trend. Food access in the country had been affected by persistent violence in the north-eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) and armed banditry and kidnapping in states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue and Niger.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), widespread flooding in the 2022 rainy season damaged more than 676,000 hectares of farmlands, which diminished harvests and increased the risk of food insecurity for families across the country. The flooding is one of the effects of climate change and variability impacting Nigeria. More extreme weather patterns affecting food security are anticipated in the future.

Of the 17 million people who are currently food insecure, three million are in the northeastern BAY states. Without immediate action, this figure is expected to increase to 4.4 million in the lean season. This includes highly vulnerable displaced populations and returnees who are already struggling to survive a large-scale humanitarian crisis in which 8.3 million people need assistance.

“The food security and nutrition situation across Nigeria is deeply concerning,” the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, said.

 “I have visited nutrition stabilization centres filled with children who are fighting to stay alive. We must act now to ensure they and others get the lifesaving support they need,” he added.

In the UN projection, children are the most vulnerable to food insecurity. Approximately six of the 17 million food-insecure Nigerians today are children under five living in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara States. There is a serious risk of mortality among children attributed to acute malnutrition. In the BAY states alone, the number of children suffering from acute malnutrition is expected to increase from 1.74 million in 2022 to 2 million in 2023.

“The northwest region, around Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States, is an increasing food insecurity and malnutrition hotspot. An estimated 2.9 million people are currently critically food insecure (Cadre Harmonisé Phase 3 or worse.) This figure is projected to increase to 4.3 million in the lean season if urgent action is not taken.

“The United Nations is calling on the Government of Nigeria, the donor community, and public and private stakeholders to urgently commit resources and implement mitigation measures to save lives and prevent a potentially catastrophic food security and nutrition situation. Support for vulnerable families across the country is needed today, not tomorrow,” it added.

Prior to the UN report, a World Bank report had projected that an additional 20 million Nigerians could be impoverished.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) latest report showed that food inflation rose by 4.65 per cent to 25.25 per cent year-on-year in June this year, compared to 20.60 per cent in the preceding year. The rise in the annual food index was attributed to increases in prices of oil and fat, bread and cereals, fish, potatoes, yam and other tubers, fruits, meat, vegetable, milk, cheese, and eggs. Month-on-month, the food index increased to 2.40 per cent compared to 2.19 per cent in May.

However, core inflation, which excluded the prices of volatile agricultural produce, increased by 4.53 per cent year-on-year to 20.27 per cent in June compared to the 15.75 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company has announced plans to exit Nigeria, after 51 years of operation in the country, due to harsh operating environment and unless business-friendly policies are introduced, many big companies that rely on the FX to source raw materials may also exit the country.

To the National Agricultural Communities Projects (NACP), there is need for governments at all levels to be courageous enough to cut their cost of governance amidst the current hardship facing Nigerians. The group said the move would demonstrate to Nigerians that the leaders share in the sufferings and sacrifices of the people.

President, Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria (MAAN)/Lead Partner, NACP, Dr. Bello Abubakar Annur, said the perks available to public office holders are so enormous that it is difficult for the average Nigerian to understand why they suffer so much and those in leadership are unaffected.

Annur, alongside presidents of the various agricultural commodity associations, therefore, called on Tinubu to do the needful, adding that, “we expect further announcements on the measures to cut the cost of governance.”

The NACP also advised Tinubu to pay more attention to the current state of insecurity in the country, pointing out that the president had failed to address this in his pronouncements so far.

Annur said, “It is also of utmost importance to deal with the issue of insecurity because, without security, there can be no prosperity.

“If the issue of insecurity is not adequately dealt with, the implementation of these strategies could be in jeopardy.

“In reality, it is inevitable that we suffer some pain for these reforms to successfully bear the required fruits. We all want a better and brighter future for Nigeria. So, let those knowledgeable about the farmers’ challenges run the programme and we assure you of a positive results at the end of the programme.”

Therefore, there is need for the president and his economic managers to introduce immediate measures to cushion the crushing effects of the subsidy removal and the exchange rate unification on the masses and reduce hunger in the land. The government must also prioritise agriculture to end hunger while also taking measures to halt insecurity in the country which makes it impossible for farmers to access their farmlands as well address rising unemployment and massive job losses.