The Nigerian Senate has urged the federal government to urgently address the country’s severe food scarcity and hunger crisis, calling it an emergency situation. The Senate emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s administration must take immediate measures to tackle food insecurity, warning that public patience is wearing thin.
The Senate expressed concerns about the potential for social unrest if the crisis continues unchecked, stressing that the government cannot take the people’s tolerance for granted. It noted the significant rise in prices of goods and household items, leading to high inflation, weakened purchasing power, and deteriorating living conditions for most Nigerians.
To mitigate the issue, the Senate revealed that the federal government has dispatched 60 trucks of fertilizers to each of the 36 states, as a temporary solution to boost agricultural production.
The call to action was prompted by a motion titled “Urgent Need to Address Food Insecurity and Market Exploitation of Consumables In Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi and co-sponsored by Senate Whip Senator Ali Ndume. Senator Karimi highlighted the dramatic increase in food prices and inflation rates, attributing it to factors such as the removal of petroleum subsidies, bad roads, increased transportation costs, and naira depreciation.
The Senate criticized the opportunistic behavior of some traders and merchants who exploit the situation to make excessive profits, further exacerbating the crisis. It also noted reports of farming communities preferring to sell their produce abroad rather than domestically, worsening local food insecurity.
Senator Ndume highlighted Nigeria’s inclusion in the list of countries experiencing severe food insecurity by international organizations, emphasizing the unprecedented level of hunger in the country. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan warned that public patience is near its breaking point, stressing the urgent need for the government to replenish the national food reserves and ensure adequate food supply.
Senate President GodsWill Akpabio remarked that the current food insecurity is a consequence of the broader insecurity issues that have plagued the country.
