Why Govt Must Tackle Food Insecurity As Festive Season Begins

As the festive season draws near, Nigerians are gripped with anxiety over rising food prices. Markets that once buzzed with holiday cheer now echo with complaints from buyers and traders alike. While Christmas and New Year are traditionally marked by feasting and family gatherings, many fear that 2024’s Yuletide may be bleak for millions of families.

Months after the Federal Government declared a state of emergency on food insecurity, the situation appears to have worsened. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), about 25 million Nigerians face food insecurity. Inflation on food items has risen to 40%, making staples like rice, yam, and beans almost unaffordable for the average Nigerian.

Insecurity in farming regions, climate change, and infrastructural deficits have combined to create the perfect storm. Farmlands have been deserted in states like Borno, Zamfara, and Benue due to herdsmen attacks and insurgency. Unpredictable weather patterns have left some areas flooded and others in drought. Meanwhile, poor road networks and unreliable electricity continue to increase food spoilage. For many Lagos residents, the struggle is becoming unbearable.

‘How Will We Celebrate When There Is No Food?’ 

The rising cost of food has left many Nigerians wondering how they will afford even the most basic ingredients for their holiday meals. Several residents of Lagos State spoke with Primebusinessafrica, painting a grim picture of the food crisis.

“I went to the market to buy rice, only to find out that a bag now costs almost double what it did last year,” lamented Mrs. Ireti Oladele, a mother of four living in the Ikorodu area of Lagos. “If rice is this expensive, how will I buy chicken, oil, and tomatoes for Christmas? We are pleading with the government to do something about food insecurity.”

Similarly, Mr. Olamide Adebayo, a civil servant in Oshodi, described his frustration with the government’s promises. “They declared a state of emergency on food insecurity, but what has changed? Prices are rising daily. I used to buy a bunch of plantains for N700, but now it’s N1,500. How can we survive like this?”

The story is no different for Abbah Mary, a PoS agent at Isolo Market, who blamed poor road infrastructure for the price hikes. “Most of the yams are from states like Benue, but the bad roads delay deliveries. By the time the food gets here, it’s already spoiling, and the traders have no choice but to increase the price,” she explained.

For Mr. Samuel Olayemi, a private school teacher, the festive season has become a nightmare. “The end of the year is when parents spend the most on school fees, and now we have to deal with these food prices. It’s as if everything is against us. If food insecurity is not addressed, I don’t know how I will manage to provide for my family this December and January,” he said with visible frustration.

Mrs. Hauwa Bello, a food vendor, has also felt the pinch. “I sell jollof rice every day, but it’s no longer profitable. A bottle of oil that used to be N800 is now N2,500. Even maggi cubes are now expensive. If food insecurity continues like this, many of us will close our businesses,” she noted.

Experts Call for Urgent Action on Food Insecurity

Beyond the cries of citizens, experts are also calling on the government to prioritize food security before the festive period. Dr. Yusuf Abubakar, an agricultural economist, stressed the need for immediate government intervention. “The festive season is a time of high demand, and if the government doesn’t act now, we may see hunger on a scale we haven’t seen before. We need subsidies for farmers, better access roads, and stable electricity to prevent food spoilage,” he explained.

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Prof. Grace Nwankwo, a food security specialist, warned that the consequences of ignoring food insecurity will be severe. “If families cannot afford food during the Yuletide, there will be social unrest. Hunger breeds frustration, and we’ve seen how protests erupt when food prices become unbearable,” she said.

The Role of Government in Tackling Food Insecurity

While citizens and experts have raised their voices, the responsibility to address food insecurity rests squarely on the government. The state of emergency declared earlier this year was seen as a step in the right direction, but many argue that words must be matched with action.

One solution, according to an expert who wants to be anonymous, is to guarantee farmers’ safety by deploying security operatives to farming areas affected by insurgency and herdsmen attacks. He noted, “Once farmers feel safe, they will return to their farmlands. But if insecurity continues, they will remain displaced, and food production will suffer.”

Additionally, Dr. Abubakar emphasised the importance of farm extension workers. “Farmers need to learn modern farming techniques that can withstand climate change. If we introduce them to hybrid seeds that mature faster and can resist floods, production will increase,” he said.

Infrastructural development is another critical area. Without proper road networks, food will continue to rot on farms. “The bad roads between farms and markets are responsible for 40% of food wastage,” said Prof. Nwankwo. She stressed that urgent action is needed to build and maintain rural roads to improve the flow of farm produce to markets.

Electricity also plays a crucial role. With stable power, farmers can process, store, and preserve their produce, reducing waste. This was highlighted by Mrs. Bello, the food vendor, who noted that the lack of electricity forced her to increase her prices due to spoilage.

Nigerians Demand Urgent Government Intervention

With Christmas only weeks away, Nigerians are growing impatient. They are calling on the government to address food insecurity before it’s too late. The rising cost of food has left families anxious, with many unsure of how they will celebrate the festive season.

“We don’t want rice and oil handouts,” declared Mrs. Oladele. “We want the government to reduce food prices. We want solutions, not donations.” Her words reflect the sentiment of millions of Nigerians who believe that sustainable solutions are more effective than short-term relief efforts.

Similarly, Mr. Adebayo said, “It’s painful to see my children asking for chicken, and I have to say no. This is not how it used to be. The government must act fast. We can’t have a festive season without food.”

The festive season is a time for joy, family, and celebration. But for many Nigerians, it could become a period of hunger and hardship if the food insecurity crisis is not addressed. The government’s state of emergency declaration raised hopes, but those hopes are quickly fading. Citizens and experts alike are urging the government to act decisively before it’s too late.

If the government takes swift action, there may still be hope for families to gather around the table this Christmas. But if nothing is done, the sound of empty plates and unfulfilled promises will mark the 2024 Yuletide.