12 hours ago
22
•Yam, beans, rice prices jump 4,837% •24.8m citizens at risk of acute hunger –Report
By Chinelo Obogo
Despite repeated assurances from the federal and state governments about strategic plans to slowly but steadily crash food prices, the exact opposite has played out as Nigeria currently grapples with a terrifying food crisis.
Currently, the prices of basic staples like yams, beans, rice and garri are sky-high, totally beyond the reach of millions of the citizens currently battling multidimensional poverty.
With the federal government’s proposed relief measures stalled due to prolonged propaganda, millions of Nigerians now face worsening food insecurity.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal how inflation is affecting everyday food items, with 19 food items experiencing the highest price increase between May 2023 and December 20024 as some products saw price surges exceeding 300 per cent. Onions saw a 353 per cent increase since May, 2023, while yam has seen a 317 per cent increase.
Ofada rice has seen an increase of 310 per cent and unripe plantain has seen a 301 per cent increase. Brown beans has increased by 297 per cent, while white beans has seen a 287 per cent increase. Ripe plantain has seen a 260 per cent increase, while local rice has increased by 250 per cent and medium grained rice by 240 per cent. White maize has increased by 228 per cent, while yellow garri has increased by 223 per cent.
Yellow maize has also increased by 223 per cent and white garri by 219 per cent. The cost of imported rice increased by 281 per cent, while the cost of tilapia fish increased by 215 per cent. Sweet potato increased by 213 per cent and irish potatoes increased by 211 per cent , medium sized eggs increased by 207 per cent, while chicken wings increased by 202 per cent. This inflation, totaling a 4,837 per cent combined increase, has pushed basic nutrition beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.
According to the latest projections of Cadre Harmonisé, a harmonised, regional framework used for the analysis and identification of areas at risk and populations affected by food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West Africa, 24.8 million Nigerians, including 116,765 internally displaced persons (IDPs), across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are at risk of acute food insecurity through May 2025. States like Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and Katsina are already experiencing full-blown food crises, while Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Lagos, and 14 others are under severe pressure.
The organisation said that the food security crisis stems from three primary factors; ongoing conflicts and unrest in various parts of the country, economic hardship, currency devaluation and high inflation, and unpredictable weather patterns affecting crops. It said these drivers have caused high food prices, depleted household food stocks, reduced income-generating activities, job losses and poor nutrition.
In July 2024, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for key food commodities like maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas to reduce rising inflation, which reached 39.53 per cent by July 2024.
However, nearly eight months later, the policy has still not been implemented due to bureaucratic bottlenecks and concerns about its potential impact on local farmers.
The Nigeria Customs Service also cited the failure of the Ministry of Finance to provide a list of eligible importers as a major obstacle. Meanwhile, the prices of food continue to rise.
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has issued a stark warning in response to the Cadre Harmonisé report, stating, “The need for action has never been more urgent!” The organisation called for immediate interventions to address these challenges and prevent a worsening food crisis.
Experts suggest that implementing the already-announced import waiver policy could provide short-term relief while longer-term solutions are pursued.
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