By Dada Ahmed.
Life in Nigeria, particularly for the poor, can best be described as a stark reality of hardship and continuous struggle. The disenchanted masses are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with daunting social and economic challenges amid a food crisis, soaring costs of living, and deepening poverty.
The report from Channels shows that Nigeria’s inflation figure reached 34.19 % for June 2024, qouting the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
This is an increase of 0.24% points when compared to the inflation figure for May 2024 released by the NBS.
“In June 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 34.19% relative to the May 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.95%, the report added.
Most families in Nigeria do not need a soothsayer to tell them how difficult it is to feed themselves, let alone their dependents, as the prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities continue to skyrocket.
In this economic quagmire ravaging the country, galloping inflation, fuel subsidy removal, high transportation costs, farmer-herder clashes, and corruption have been identified as possible causes of the current pains visiting the masses.
Many Nigerians have expressed dismay that their country, the most populous black nation globally, can be in such economic challenges.
However, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu says his administration is not unaware of the excruciating social and economic pains Nigerians are experiencing and is doing everything possible to put a smile on the faces of the citizens. He expressed the avowed commitment of his administration to finding lasting solutions to the food crisis and other issues confronting the country.
While the president and his team work towards alleviating the economic hardships facing the citizens, concerned members of the public and organizations say they are also committed to joining the government in the onerous task of uprooting the country from its present economic hardships.
The concern of Nigerians over the terrible economic situation in the country is evident, as market surveys eloquently testify. Foodstuffs such as yam, garri, rice, beans, millet, red oil, meat, soup ingredients, semovita, cassava, among other consumables, have seen their prices triple and beyond tolerable proportions.
This development, political analysts argue, has triggered phenomenal hunger and abject starvation in many quarters, coupled with heightened crime and criminality in the land.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with a plethora of social and economic hurdles, the prime being the food crisis, a call for urgent intervention by members of the public and private sectors of the economy becomes increasingly feasible.
Contributing to the national discourse over the nation’s multifaceted challenges, Comrade Eleojo Opaluwa, a labor analyst, expressed delight that the Tinubu-led administration has decided to crash the price of foodstuffs in the country, describing the move as a welcome development.
“That is the right way to go in these trying times for most homes in Nigeria. To effectively carry out that task by the committee, the idea of food distribution as palliative must be stopped forthwith and funds being given to state governments should be channeled to the temporary importation of grains such as rice, maize, beans, sorghum, etc. “This will flood the market and sell directly to our local traders. In doing so, the price of foodstuffs will be reduced to reach the common man,” he advised.
Comrade, who is also a security expert, anchors his advice on frightening statistics of foodstuffs in the country. He reveals, “Statistics have shown that the price of foodstuffs in the country rose sharply by almost 100% between June and August 2023, after the National Economic Council approved the disbursement of N5 billion each to state governments for the purchase of grains as palliatives for distribution to citizens. Since then, the price of commodities in the market has continued to rise without obstruction.”
Delving into the food crisis, Opaluwa further notes that farmers and middlemen took advantage of the bulk purchase by government agents, who in most cases inflated the contract sum to increase their prices. According to him, this questionable move was effected at the detriment of the common man, who in most cases does not benefit from the food distribution initiative by the government.
Eleojo’s advice reflects the thinking of many concerned Nigerians desirous to see their country emerge from its economic doldrums, much stronger and able to feed its citizens and even export food to other parts of the world.
Experts in various human endeavors are also up their sleeves in the course of finding lasting solutions to the problem by calling for the diversification of the economy to reduce dependence on oil, in preference for promoting sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and technology. This move, if genuinely carried out, they argue, can create more sustainable economic growth and reduce vulnerability to oil price fluctuations.
Also Contributing to the solution of the nation’s food crisis, the 27th Ohimege Igu of Koton-Karfe Kingdom in Kogi State, His Royal Majesty Saidu Akawu Salihu, called on Nigerians, irrespective of status, to return to farming to boost food production and ensure food security.
Other citizens see a meaningful solution to the food challenge in Nigeria if the three tiers of government establish large-scale mechanized farms, managed by qualified agriculture experts and free from corruption, all in a conscious effort to address the food crisis and make Nigeria a food-sufficient nation.
Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council, are actively contributing to alleviating Nigeria’s food crisis.
In a poetic message, revolving around agriculture,shared on their WhatsApp platform titled “Operation Plant Something,” posted by Abdul, the message reads:
“Food prices are soaring in the market, yet you anticipate cheaper food.
However, you view farming as a pursuit for the less fortunate.
Your compound is flawlessly tidy, devoid of any plant life – not even a flower or fruit tree.
Raising chickens, rabbits, fish, goats, or even snails is uncommon for you.
Basic vegetables haven’t been planted in your compound, yet you lament about food expenses.
You consume more than you produce; planting even a fraction of what you eat seems inconceivable.
While many Nigerians aspire to white-collar jobs, they rely on others for their food.
You advocate for higher wages while expecting farmers to sell their goods cheaply.
Remember: what was sown last year feeds us now. Without planting this year, next year’s food supply is jeopardized, or inflation could peak.
Living in an urban area isn’t a hindrance; growing surplus food isn’t a crime – it can supplement income.
Nigeria’s fertile land can sustain nearly any crop.
My advice:
1. Every household should endeavor to grow 10% to 20% of their food.
2. Plant fruit trees like mango, orange, pear, guava, plantain, pawpaw, coconut in streets and compounds.
3. Backyards can accommodate vegetables – even if paved, use sand, tires, or sacks for planting.
4. Raise local chickens or rabbits if viable; government support can aid farmers and consumers alike.
5. Respect farmers and their labor; farming isn’t solely for the underprivileged.
6. Each household should cultivate at least 20% of their food.
7. Agricultural students should receive practical farming plots annually.
8. State governments should invest in agricultural machinery and provide them to farmer associations.
9. Establish separate farm settlements for crop and livestock farmers.
10. Enact laws against open animal rearing without containment.
11. Provide low-interest loans to farmers through accredited associations.
12. Establish farm produce marketing boards to oversee purchases and assist farmers during harvest.
Taking action on planting now can mitigate the escalating cost of living.”
Beyond solving the country’s food crisis, economic analysts in their clarion calls in various fora, express strong belief in the efficacy of financial inclusion to ease the pangs of the current economic hardships on the people.This, they argue, will enable the government to expand access to financial services and promote financial literacy to empower more Nigerians economically and facilitate small business growth.
Others opt for education and skills development to enhance education and vocational training programs, which will equip Nigerians with the skills needed for modern industries and entrepreneurship.
Moreover, other Nigerians stress the need for job creation by calling on the government to implement policies that will encourage the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regarded as significant employers in Nigeria. This policy could go along with the provision of incentives for businesses to enable their management to hire more local workers, proponents of this urge assure the government.
Given that healthcare in Nigeria is costly, health experts call for investment in healthcare to improve people’s access to healthcare services and infrastructure to boost productivity and reduce the economic burden due to health-related issues.
Yet, some other Nigerians affirm the belief that infrastructure development is another viable way to resolve the current economic hardships. Doing so will pave the way for investment in critical infrastructure such as roads, power plants, and transportation networks to stimulate economic activity and facilitate the easier movement of goods and services, they expressed optimism.
Corruption and governance have been identified as some of the cogs in the wheel of governance in Nigeria. In this regard, Nigerians have urged the Tinubu administration to double efforts by implementing measures to tackle corruption and improve governance transparency to attract more foreign investment and boost local confidence in the economy.
Financial inclusion has been identified as another possible option for the government to save Nigeria from the current economic hardships. Many have advised the government to expand access to financial services and promote financial literacy to empower more Nigerians economically and facilitate small business growth.
When all pieces of advice are carried out with strong political will by the government, Nigerians express optimism that in the near future, their beloved nation will once more witness the era of its glorious past.
Dada Ahmed publishes The Reporters.
