FG Confused as Nigeria’s Food Crisis Worsens

Nigeria is currently grappling with a severe food crisis exacerbated by a combination of drought and floods in key agricultural regions.

The situation has led to poor harvests and soaring food prices, creating widespread concern among citizens and policymakers alike.

In recent years, Nigerian governors have increasingly relied on the Federal Government (FG) to provide essential food items such as rice, maize, sorghum, and wheat.

This dependency has proven ineffective, as evidenced by the worsening food security situation.

Historically, during the 1950s and 1960s, regional leaders managed food production independently without relying on federal intervention, resulting in better food security even without crude oil revenue.

The current leadership, including Presidents, Governors, legislators, and Ministers, appears to be leading the nation astray by turning citizens into dependents on government palliatives.

"No nation has achieved self-sufficiency and sustainable food security by making almajiris out of its people," the article states, questioning the lack of effective leadership on food issues. Recent reports paint a grim picture of the food crisis.

For instance, a 100kg bag of newly harvested groundnut now sells for N60,000, double the price from the same period last year.

This indicates that tougher times may lie ahead. Adding to the crisis are natural disasters.

Ten states, including Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa, have been hit by floods, while Kogi and Kwara face severe drought conditions.

These twin calamities have devastated crops, further straining the food supply. The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency predicts that 31 states with 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are at high risk of flooding this year. Moreover, the threat of pests looms large.

Past experiences suggest that floods and droughts often lead to pest invasions, which can devastate farms more severely than cattle herds. Currently, only four states are experiencing both floods and droughts simultaneously, but if more states are affected, the situation could become catastrophic.

The Federal Government's response has been criticized as inadequate and confused. While the decision to allow limited importation of duty-free food items was initially praised, the stringent conditions for importers have sparked controversy.

For example, only companies that can mill 100 tons per day and have been in business for at least five years are allowed to import paddy rice.

This policy excludes newer businesses like Lagos State's Imota rice mill, which could serve the Southern market more efficiently.

Critics argue that the FG's approach misses opportunities to alleviate hunger and reduce food prices.

"The details of the implementation of the food importation policy fell far short of what would have been required to make a significant impact on acute hunger ravaging the nation," the article notes.

In light of these challenges, some have called for a national day of prayer to seek divine intervention. As it stands, both Federal and State governments appear powerless to prevent poor harvests this year.

The combined effects of drought, floods, and potential pest invasions highlight the urgent need for effective intervention to mitigate the escalating food insecurity in Nigeria.