Taking three meals a day is becoming rare due to inflation and economic hardship
Growing up in Ibadan, Nigeria, Abel Olatubosun remembered the city as one of the most affordable places to live. But recently, he was stunned when his sister informed him that N5,000 could no longer prepare a pot of soup for a family of four in their hometown. Now based in Lagos and working as a public servant, Abel was dismayed.
“The situation has become so bad that on nearly every radio programme, whether the topic is related to the economy or not, callers end up lamenting the state of the country. I’m 75 years old and have lived most of my life in Ibadan, but I’ve never seen things this bad,” he said.
Mrs. Adeyemi added, “Kind-hearted people donate food and money to help others, and these are sometimes announced on the radio—but how many can they help? Remember the stampede a few months ago in the city when food was being distributed to the poor? The organisers were detained. If people aren’t hungry, who enjoys begging for crumbs?”
Scavenging on the Rise
While no society is perfect and not everyone can be rich, the economic hardship in Nigeria has driven many to scavenge for survival. Hosting a party without tight security has become risky, as “area boys” often disrupt events.
James Yombo, a retired journalist in the Iyesi area of Ogun State, was shocked by the plight of a local family. “A family of five—the wife is a petty trader and the husband an artisan—was found eating eba with a watery soup made from only water leaf and salt. No pepper, no palm oil, no fish or meat. That was their only meal of the day, and it was already evening,” he said.
In another case, a single mother sent her children to scavenge nearby farms for pawpaw, ripe or unripe, just to have something in their stomachs.
Similarly, John Komolafe, an accountant and farmer, was approached by a neighbour asking for an unripe bunch of bananas—not plantains—for his family’s supper. “I explained that bananas aren’t usually boiled for food, and that they weren’t even mature, but he insisted,” said Komolafe. “Later, he told me they boiled and ate them anyway, with nothing else.”
Komolafe said his neighbour, a retired printer, now runs a small piggery and often begs for food to feed the animals. “Life hasn’t been easy for him or his family.”
Insecurity has even reached farms. Recently, police in Ekiti State arrested three men for killing an 85-year-old farmer. According to the police spokesman, Sunday Abutu, the suspects confessed to attacking the man on his farm and stealing yams.
How Nigerians Are Coping
Following the federal government’s decision to allow rice imports with reduced duties, the price per bag dropped from around N100,000 to N70,000. But prices of flour, sugar, and pepper remain high.
Hannah Adedoja, a housewife in Agbado, Lagos, said, “What I used to buy for a whole month now barely lasts a week. In my home, we skip lunch. On school days, the children eat only in the morning before school, and maybe have gari or biscuits in the afternoon before dinner.”
Maryam Yusuf noted the difficulty of even buying pepper for soup. “During Sallah, we had to improvise. The ram was smaller than usual, and we reduced the number of items. Guests weren’t treated lavishly. The recent flood in Mokwa that damaged a major bridge caused pepper prices to soar. Managing tensions at home now requires serious understanding between spouses.”
Even Nigerians abroad are affected. Joseph Fabusuyi, based in Chicago, said, “The number of calls and messages I get is overwhelming. Some even send voice notes describing their struggles and begging for help. Making money here is not as easy as it used to be. I’ve had to start ignoring some requests.”
One Billion People at Risk of Hunger Globally – World Bank
The World Bank recently reported that over one billion people globally are at risk of hunger, especially in low- and middle-income nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Referencing the July 2023 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) Market Monitor, the Bank cited geopolitical tensions and the collapse of Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka Dam as contributing to global food shortages.
The dam’s failure caused flooding, disrupted irrigation for over 500,000 hectares of farmland, and impacted grain and vegetable production. Ukraine and Russia, both major wheat producers, have seen their exports drop, driving up global flour and sugar prices.
To address this, the World Bank announced in April 2023 a $30 billion commitment over 15 months. Nearly half has been dedicated to Africa. Examples include:
- A $766 million food systems program in West Africa
- A $150 million grant for Yemen
- $125 million for climate-resilient agriculture in Jordan
- $300 million for food security and climate-smart agriculture in Bolivia
- $500 million for Egypt to support bread access and food reforms
- $2.3 billion for Eastern and Southern Africa to improve food resilience
Tackling Food Insecurity in Nigeria
Before the discovery of oil in 1956, Nigeria had no food insecurity crisis. Regional governments supported agriculture. In the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s administration built farm settlements, such as the one in Orin-Ekiti.
But the 1970s oil boom shifted focus away from agriculture. Since then, various policies have aimed at boosting food production, but results remain limited.
Factors Hindering Food Production in Nigeria
Insecurity is the biggest threat. Armed groups have driven farmers off their lands, especially in food-rich states like Benue. Other challenges include inconsistent policies, a lack of mechanisation, and outdated tools.
Government Calls for Prayers
Last weekend, a memo from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture surfaced online, urging staff to observe prayer and fasting on three consecutive Mondays starting June 16. Public backlash forced the ministry to clarify the request.
According to a follow-up statement by Assistant Director Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the prayer initiative was an internal response to recent deaths among ministry staff, not an official food security policy.
“The prayer was to address the apprehensiveness of staff over recent untimely deaths of management staff,” the statement said. “It is not an official food security measure, but a voluntary act of faith.”
