Protest over hardship spreads to Oyo as 26m Nigerians grapple with hunger

• Over 4.41m children face acute malnutrition – Red Cross • Food security: Only 0.50% of FDI went to agriculture in 2023 • Endure, keep hope alive, Tinubu’s children beg Nigerians • Don’t join protest, Ohanaeze directs Ndigbo

THE International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ( IFRC) and Nigerian Red Cross Society ( NRCS), yesterday, expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of hunger in Nigeria, revealing that a staggering 26.5 million Nigerians are currently struggling with food insecurity.

Amid the soaring food inflation and complaints of food shortages being experienced across the country, the agricultural sector recorded a meager $ 19.91 million in foreign investment for the year 2023 representing just 0.50 per cent of total foreign capital import during the period. On a year- on- year comparison, foreign investment in the agricultural sector dropped from $ 95.80 million recorded in 2022 to its current figure. This represents a decline of 79.2 per cent over one year.

Fishing, a sub- sector under the agricultural sector, did not record any foreign investment in 2023 representing a decline of 100 per cent from the $ 9 million recorded in 2022.

The agricultural sector also contracted for the first time in seven years in Q1 in 2023 in terms of its contribution to GDP.

International development institutions like the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organisation ( FAO) have painted gloomy pictures of the food production sector in 2024. The World Bank in its food security report noted that seven states across northern Nigeria will witness a severe food crisis in 2024 while the FAO stated that around 26 million Nigerians risk hunger this year. In response to the food insecurity crisis, the NRCS is teaming up with Ecobank Nigeria to raise funds locally and provide much- needed relief for many of those affected. The collaboration aims to support Nigerians who have been impacted by the hunger crisis.

Secretary- General of Nigerian Red Cross Society, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Kende, who disclosed this in Abuja, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that nearly 4.41 million children and 585,000 mothers are facing acute malnutrition. This puts their lives at risk and emphasizes the urgent need for assistance.

Kende highlighted the devastating consequences of malnutrition, revealing that almost 1,000 children under age five die daily from malnutrition- related causes in Nigeria. “The gravity of the hunger crisis persists, and more individuals are in desperate need of assistance. The IFRC, in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross, has therefore scaled up the Hunger Crisis Emergency Appeal to reach 2.5 million people. This appeal is part of the broader Africa Hunger Crisis Appeal, recognising the regional impact of this dire situation.

F

EW weeks after residents of Kano, Niger, Osun and some other parts of the country took to the streets over economic hardship, a similar incident occurred yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital when protesters converged on Mokola area of Ibadan over high cost of living, food inflation and hardship in the country.

They wielded placards with inscriptions such as ‘ The poor are starving,’ ‘ Tinubu, don’t forget your promises’, among others. Policemen were seen guarding the protesters against taking law into their hands.

The police had on Sunday warned that no breach of peace would be allowed during any protest in the state. Nigerians have lately been complaining bitterly about the current situation. The protest, which took off at Mokola Roundabout, had in attendance representatives of different groups including traders, artisans, students’ unions from various institutions in the state. The protest, according to them, was aimed at drawing the attention of the leadership at all tiers of government to the prevailing economic situation in the country.

The protesters moved from Moka, Veterinary Junction, Sango, Bodija, Agbowo and Agodi Gate, slowing traffic movement in the affected areas. The chant of ‘ Ebi n pawa’ ( We are hungry) rented the atmosphere as the youth trooped out en- mass. One of the protest leaders, Emiola Solomon, said the protest was held u nder the aegis of All Concerned Nigerians. According to him, the hardship in the land was excruciating and the President must rise to the occasion before the country burns down.

He said: “The masses are suffering due to the hike in prices of food items. Buying food has become difficult now. All food items are costly.”

The eldest son of President Bola Tinubu, Mr Seyi Tinubu, on Monday , ple aded with Nigerians to exercise patience with his father’s administration as they weather the challenging economic times. Seyi, in an Instagram post, rehashed his father’s words from a national broadcast to mark the 63rd Independence Day anniversary last October .