Food Security: Nigerians Keep Experiencing Progress On Paper As The World Celebrates World Food Day

ISAAC ASABOR

As the world celebrates World Food Day today, a day dedicated to raising awareness about global food security, the theme of this year’s celebration, “Water is life, water is food,” resonates deeply with many Nigerians who continue to face an uphill battle to secure food for their families. While the Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, has made bold claims of progress in ensuring food security, the lived reality of millions of Nigerians tells a very different story, one of rising hunger and empty stomachs. Despite official reports of interventions addressing food insecurity, many Nigerians are asking: Where is this food security the government speaks of?

World Food Day, commemorated annually on October 16, is an international observance established by the United Nations to focus on the fight against hunger, ensure food security, and highlight the importance of sustainable agricultural practices. Across the globe, countries mark the day by reflecting on their progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition. However, for Nigerians, it’s hard to find much to celebrate. In a nation where food inflation continues to soar and many families struggle to afford basic meals, the promise of food security remains a distant dream.

The presidency recently released a progress report detailing the Tinubu administration’s efforts toward improving food security. The report highlights a series of interventions, including distributing food commodities from national reserves, dry-season farming initiatives, and suspending tariffs on food imports. Yet, for the average Nigerian, these policies have yielded little relief.

As gathered from the release, particularly from an enlightening article titled “President Tinubu’s Interventions on Food Security: Progress Report,” authored by Fredrick Nwabufo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, and published on various news platforms, the government has taken significant steps to combat food insecurity. 

He pointed out that the administration launched initiatives such as the distribution of over 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities, the release of milled rice across states, and the cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 states. The report also cited the empowerment of 2,770 farmers with agricultural inputs, including machinery and seeds. 

Given the foregoing facts or lies, it is expedient to ask: “Has this translated to any tangible improvement in the availability and affordability of food for the masses?”

For many Nigerians, the answer is a resounding no. In markets across the country, food prices have continued to skyrocket. Despite claims of price stabilisation through government interventions, inflation on essential commodities remains a pressing issue. A bag of rice, which was once within reach of many households, now costs nearly double what it did just a few years ago. The prices of garri, maize, beans, and vegetables have also shot up, leaving Nigerians scrambling to feed their families.

Iya Wale, a trader in Ogba, Lagos, expressed her frustration: “They said food would be cheaper if we voted for them, but things are only getting worse. A bag of rice is now a luxury, and we can hardly afford cassava or beans. How do they expect us to survive?”

The markets in Nigeria tell a much grimmer story than the rosy picture painted by official reports. Despite the suspension of duties on food imports, there is little indication that these measures have trickled down to the consumer level. Food is still expensive, and transportation costs, driven up by rising fuel prices, continue to exacerbate the problem.

As Nigerians join the rest of the world in marking World Food Day, the theme “Water is life, water is food” feels especially poignant. Access to clean water is integral to food production, and without it, farmers struggle to grow the crops that feed the nation. But beyond access to water, Nigerians are struggling with a deeper issue: access to food itself. The celebration of World Food Day underscores the irony of a government that claims to prioritise food security, yet the majority of its citizens still face daily struggles to feed themselves.

Yusuf, a taxi driver in Ojota, Lagos, shared his thoughts on the disconnect between the government’s claims and the reality on the ground: “They say they are making progress with food security, but in my home, we are still hungry. Prices keep going up, and it’s getting harder to buy food. What’s the point of all these government programs if they don’t help the ordinary person?”

The frustration is palpable, and it’s not just in Lagos or Abuja. Across the country, from the bustling markets of Kano to the fishing communities in Bayelsa, Nigerians are feeling the pinch. Many are questioning how the government can celebrate food security when they cannot even afford three square meals a day.

One of the central components of President Tinubu’s food security strategy is the empowerment of farmers. The government’s report highlights initiatives such as the distribution of agricultural inputs like power tillers, fertilisers, and improved seeds to farming clusters. These efforts are supposed to boost productivity and make Nigeria more self-sufficient in food production. However, farmers themselves say they are still waiting to see the benefits.

Ibrahim, a smallholder Onion farmer at Kara in Ogun State, which is an adjacent community to Berger in Lagos, explained the challenges he faces: “The government says they have distributed fertilisers and equipment, but many of us have not received anything. Even when they do give us input, it is not enough to make a real difference. The cost of farming is going up, and we are struggling just to keep up.”

The disconnect between the government’s agricultural policies and the needs of local farmers is yet another example of how food security remains a theoretical concept rather than a practical reality. Farmers, who should be the backbone of Nigeria’s food production system, continue to face rising costs, insecurity, and a lack of meaningful support.

As the day wears on, the voices of hungry Nigerians grow louder. A mother of four at Pakuro,a community within Mowe in Ogun State, who preferred to remain anonymous, captured the sentiment of many: “They keep talking about food security, but what about us? We are starving. I can’t remember the last time I bought a full bag of rice. Even vegetables are becoming too expensive. How can we celebrate World Food Day when our children go to bed hungry?”

In the northern part of the country, where insecurity has severely disrupted farming activities, the situation is even direr. Farmers displaced by bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have abandoned their fields, further compounding the food crisis. The government’s promises of empowering farmers and securing farmlands have fallen short, leaving many rural communities vulnerable and food insecure.

As World Food Day draws to a close, the question remains: What can be done to address the widening gap between government policies and the reality of hunger in Nigeria? The government’s interventions, while well-intentioned, have yet to deliver meaningful results for the millions of Nigerians who are still struggling to feed their families.

To move forward, the government must reassess its approach to food security. Policies must not only look good on paper but also deliver tangible results that can be felt in the stomachs of everyday Nigerians. This means ensuring that food distribution schemes are transparent and reach those who need them most. It means prioritising the stabilisation of food prices and addressing the root causes of food inflation, including the rising cost of fuel and transportation. Most importantly, it means listening to the voices of farmers, traders, and ordinary citizens who are bearing the brunt of the food crisis.

World Food Day should be a time for celebration, but for many Nigerians, it is a reminder of how far the country still has to go. Until the government’s food security policies begin to yield real, measurable results, hunger will continue to plague the nation, and the promises of progress will remain nothing more than words on paper.