World Food Day: Rep Kaoje reveals struggles of average Nigerians to access food

The typical Nigerian is finding it difficult to afford food, according to Rep. Bello Kaoje, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Production and Services. This is true despite numerous attempts by the federal government to address the nation’s food issue.

In an announcement released on Wednesday in honor of “World Food Day,” 2024, he made the claims.
Rep. Kaoje stated that the government and Nigerians should be concerned about the celebration’s theme, “Right to Food for a Better Life and Better Future.”

The congressman stated, “This is because many Nigerians cannot afford food as a right due to the high cost of food items (high inflation rate of two digits), which is the highest in the world. As a result, many do not have the right to a balanced diet and a better life.”

“Although food costs are now beyond the means of the typical Nigerian, the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has implemented efforts to solve the food crisis condition of hunger and starvation, which is getting worse every day.

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“The government has implemented measures such as a 150-day duty-free import window on food commodities, the suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes, and the importation of 2,500 metric tons of maize and wheat. Additionally, relevant stakeholders have been engaged in order to set up growth means production and purchase surplus to small holder farmers food reserves.

“The federal government’s other efforts, such as increasing production for the 2024–2025 farming cycle, reviving the National Livestock Transformation Implementation Committee, and enacting nutritional security, have not yet produced the intended outcome.”

Nonetheless, he gave his word that the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, led by him and with the backing of the 10th House of Representatives’ leadership and all other members, would make every effort to support Nigeria’s attainment of food security, as hunger is undoubtedly one of the nation’s issues.

He stated that on October 16, the day designated to double efforts toward eradicating hunger worldwide, the committee aligns and joins the rest of the globe in commemorating the yearly event.