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Over 31m Nigerians facing acute food crisis -FG
The Federal Government has revealed that over 31.8 million Nigerians are currently facing severe food shortages, a situation exacerbated by ongoing security issues and the recent removal of fuel subsidies.
The distressing information comes from a study conducted by international development partners, which highlights a worrying increase in malnutrition among women and children.
The findings were presented during meetings with government officials earlier this week, as reported by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning. The study, a collaborative effort by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), and the German development agency GIZ, utilized data from the Cadre Harmonise; a regional framework for food security; to assess the crisis.
The report states, “The surge in food commodity prices, driven by the removal of fuel subsidies and ongoing security challenges, has plunged millions of Nigerians into a precarious situation.”
Nigeria’s National Convener of Food Systems and Director of Social Development at the Ministry, Sanjo Faniran, emphasised that the study provides valuable insights into existing gaps, successes, and challenges, offering key recommendations for addressing the crisis.
The federal government’s report corroborates findings from other international organizations, including the World Bank, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and the World Food Program (WFP). Earlier this year, the World Bank projected that seven northern states would face severe food security challenges due to rising food inflation and insecurity in major food-producing regions.
The Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast has severely disrupted food production, leading to widespread destruction of farmlands. Similarly, conflicts between farmers and herders, along with ongoing banditry, have adversely impacted agricultural output in the Northwest and Northcentral regions.
The security issues, coupled with global food supply chain disruptions, have driven Nigeria’s food inflation rate above 40% as of June, although there has been a slight decrease in July.
In response to the crisis, the federal government is considering the implementation of state and community policing to protect farming communities. Additionally, the deployment of 10,000 agro-rangers across 19 states aims to address security concerns. The government has also approved a 150-day duty-free importation period for essential food items, including rice, maize, beans, and sorghum, to alleviate shortages until local harvests can meet demand. However, this measure has raised concerns among agricultural stakeholders who fear it may undermine recent gains in local food production.
By Ojomah Austin.
The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.
After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.
Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.
Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.
Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.
The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.
While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.
By Mario Deepromoter
Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.
According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.
Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.
“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.
The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
By Mario Deepromoter
11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.
Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.
Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.
“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.
It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.
He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.
Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.
See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.
“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.
According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.
“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.
“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”
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