The country’s economic reforms have led to skyrocketing food prices. A 50-kg bag of local rice now sells for N80,000 to N90,000, up from N50,000 to N60,000 prior to the reforms.
According to Salisu Mohammed, deputy country director of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the situation is dire, with over 1.8 million people in Nigeria at risk of high food insecurity. Continuous conflicts, economic shocks, inflation, and rising food prices have devastated the global food supply, exacerbating the hunger crisis in Nigeria.
Aregbesola’s warning comes as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that $228 million is needed to meet the food and nutrition needs of 1.6 million people in the North East of Nigeria over the next six months. The Nigerian government has responded by implementing various policies and initiatives to address the food crisis, including the release of 102,000 metric tonnes of maize, millet, and garri from the National Food Reserve.
Aregbesola, a former ally of President Tinubu and former governor of Osun state, warned that the situation could lead to revolution if not immediately addressed. He advocated that wealth should not be concentrated in the hands of a few and that insecurity should be immediately addressed.
His statement reads in part:
See the video of his comment here:
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
