Key Points
- Leadership Inaccessibility: President Tinubu is reportedly difficult to reach, even for ministers.
- Government Struggles: Federal government faces challenges addressing the cost of living and food scarcity.
- Senatorial Concerns: Ndume and Karimi highlight a potential food insecurity crisis for 82 million Nigerians.
- Urgent Action Needed: Without intervention, Nigeria risks famine and starvation, particularly among children.
- Economic Impact: Food inflation has significantly increased, adding to the economic burden on Nigerians.
- Statistics on Food Security: The number of food-insecure Nigerians has risen sharply in recent years.
Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the Senate, has voiced serious concerns over the soaring cost of living and worsening food scarcity in Nigeria. Ndume’s worries are heightened by President Bola Tinubu’s perceived lack of engagement on these pressing issues, particularly with his ministers.
Government’s Struggles and Closed Doors
In a BBC Hausa interview, Ndume highlighted the federal government’s struggle to tackle the escalating crisis. He revealed that even some ministers find it challenging to meet with President Tinubu to discuss critical matters.
“The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies,” Ndume lamented.
Call for Immediate Government Intervention
Ndume’s comments followed a motion he co-sponsored with Senator Sunday Karimi, aimed at addressing the country’s food crisis.
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The senators noted that the World Food Programme has warned that 82 million Nigerians could face food insecurity within the next five years.
Urgent Need for Action
Stressing the urgency, Ndume warned that without prompt government intervention, Nigeria could face severe famine and starvation, particularly among children.
“We want to draw the government’s attention to the fact that Nigeria is not only facing a high cost of living but also food scarcity,” he stressed.
He cited malnutrition cases in Katsina State, comparing Nigeria’s plight to dire situations in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying from hunger.
Proposals for Solutions
Ndume urged the government to take immediate action by consulting with experts and stakeholders to devise viable solutions to the food crisis. He expressed his disappointment over the government’s inaction, despite its promises.
The senator warned of a future where even those with financial means might find no food available in the markets.
“We fear that a day may come when even if someone has the financial means to purchase food, they will go to the market and find none available,” he cautioned.
Economic Hardships and Inflation
Ndume’s concerns resonate deeply as Nigerians nationwide grapple with economic hardships exacerbated by the food crisis. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food inflation soared to 40.66 per cent in May, compared to 24.82 per cent in the same month last year—a significant 15.84 per cent increase.
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The NBS reported that staple foods such as semovita, oatflake, yam flour, garri, beans, Irish potatoes, yams, and water yams contributed significantly to the year-on-year increase in food inflation. Other contributors included palm oil, vegetable oil, stockfish, mudfish, crayfish, beef, chicken, pork, and bush meat.
Ndume’s outcry highlights the urgent need for decisive government action to address Nigeria’s growing food crisis and alleviate the mounting economic burdens on its citizens.
