Commoners: The victims of Nigeria’s food crisis, by Malam MB
NEWS DIGEST – In countries that mean well for the Commoners, food crisis emerges as a result of poor harvest which emanates from natural disaster and sometimes socio-economic incubuses. In the case of Nigeria, the chronicle is different where food crisis is mostly caused by government’s inhuman policies and hoaders’ heartlessness.
The Buhari administration banned the importaion of grains which was a great idea because I knew the billions of dollars used to be spent year in, year out. But the big questions here are, what were the measures taken by President Buhari before the ban? Introduction of the ineffective Anchor Borrowers’ Programme that failed to target the local farmers? Encouraging the local farmers on traditional farming? Is that how the 4 Asian Dragons that were once in Nigeria in the 1960s did it? Nigerian Commoners are undoubtedly the victims of food crisis because they hardly have 2 meals a day, whereas those at the carridors of power have 4 meals (Breakfast, lunch, tea and deaner) a day. Nightmarishly, the Buhari administration constantly complains while people die of hunger. A serious government would do the needful.
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Whilst there was food crisis in April 2008, the then Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’adua approved the importaion of 500,000 tons of rice in order to cushion the effect of the crisis and to crush the hoaders. Perplexedly, the then Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio of Akwa Ibom who eulogized Yar’adua for that decision is now an incumbent Minister in the Buhari administration and has apparently chosen to keep mum!
Poor Nigerians expected a helping hand from the Presidency few days ago but on September 2nd, 2020 the Senior Speacial Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu released a demoralizing message that “President Buhari’s administration has raised some of these issues with the various food producer associations involved, particularly those of rice and other grains. With their cooperation, the high food prices should soon be a thing of the past.”
When will this government start acting? Nigerians are fed up with these groundless statements from the Presidency. However, bags of maize is now N21,000, local rice N24,000 let alone foreign one. The hike in maize and rice prices prompted many Commoners to go for flour and the price of bread skyrocketed. Commoners are indisputably the victims of Nigeria’s food crisis.
A government that loves its citizens dearly doesn’t need to tell the world, it will be palpable through its actions. An astute government doesn’t blame too much but works indefatigably for its people. The Buhari administration should take stock.
I Malam MB write from Bauchi and can be reached via: malammb16@gmail.com
