Mr President, Nigerians Are Hungry -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The soaring price of good and services since the removal of petroleum subsidy is frightening and disturbing. The prices of grains and other essential food items in local markets which were hitherto cheap and affordable have skyrocketed beyond the reach of the common man. The world Bank has released a damning report of 4 millions nigerians who slided to poverty in the last 6months and warned another 7.1 are likely to fall to poverty by the end of the year unless government quickly rolls out palliatives to cushion the effects of subsidy removal. Even before the removal of subsidy, the food and Agricultural Organization (FAO),had predicted that, Nigeria would face imminent famine this year. FAO prediction was premised on the ongoing war in Ukraine,banditry and farmers/herders crises in North West and North-central respectively. There is no gainsaying the facts, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto states have been hit by the activities of bandits. Peasants farmers have been sacked or driven away from their ancestral homes.

The worrisome activities of bandits will affect food production,spike up food prices and led to hunger.

The federal government has planned to disburse 500 billions palliatives to nigerians. Under the plan,#8000 will be distributed to each of 12 millions selected nigerians for the period of 6 months. In the short time, the safety net will temporary relieve poverty among the beneficiaries,but at the long run, when the payment stops, poverty may jump up.

Instead of doling out billions of naira to nigerians,the government should subsidiase farms product, health and improve irrigation farming to augment seasonal rain farming. While the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari, had opened two borders to amiliorate food shortage, the Tinubu led administration should follow sue and open the remaining ones. The rising cost of essential food products calls for prompt action.

Insecurity which plagues the North should be squarely addressed to guarantee food security. It is unarguable to say, millions of nigerians hardly eat one square meal let alone three a day.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state 08169056963.