More than 2.8 billion people in the world cannot afford healthy diets, the Director-General of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation, Qu Dongyu, has said. Mr Dongyu made this known during the 2024 World Food Day global ceremony with the theme: “Right to ‘Foods’ for a Better Life and a Better Future. Foods’ in the theme stands for diversity, nutrition, affordability and safety. Mr Dongyu said that malnutrition in its various forms existed in countries and socio-economic classes. He added that even in high-income economies, people were choosing convenient and unhealthy foods. The FAO director-general attributed the problems to challenges in agrifood systems where nutritious and diverse foods needed for healthy diets were insufficient and unaffordable.

According to him, food security translates to food availability, accessibility and affordability. “With 730 million people facing hunger, it is clear that there is still much work to be done, and FAO’s mandate to ensure food security for all is as valid as ever. This World Food Day, I am calling on all to renew their commitments to building more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems that can nourish the world,” he said. Mr Dongyu said that immediate action must be taken to ensure the integrated ‘Four Betters.’ “For better production and better nutrition, governments should enable healthy diets for everyone by incentivising production and sale of more nutritious foods. They should also promote their consumption in a healthy way. For a better environment, we need to produce more with less; we need more quantity with more diverse foods with less agricultural inputs and less negative impacts on the environment. We need to produce enough diverse foods, while preserving biodiversity and protecting the planet,” he said.

Mr Dongyu said that,  for a better life, innovation such as information technology, Artificial Intelligence, biotechnology and digital agriculture were needed. He also said that, to support governments, the private sector would need to shift from unhealthy foods and make a greater diversity of safe and nutritious foods available, affordable and appealing. “They need to be our allies in addressing this global challenge. Governments cannot do it alone. “We cannot build peaceful communities without addressing hunger and malnutrition,” he said. He said that the younger generation had a vital role to play, adding that a food secure future without malnutrition was a human right. Mr Dongyu called for renewal of commitments to building efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems that would guarantee the right to good foods for all. (NAN)

Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, have asked the Federal Government to improve on  subsidise the N40,000 per 50kg bag of rice and revisit the condition of National Identification Number, NIN, presentation including telephone number before purchasing the commodity. Speaking to newsmen in an interview, the CSOs said there should be serious consideration for Nigerians who are in Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camps, and the very vulnerable groups who do not have such documents to present before buying a bag of rice. They also asked government to list out for Nigerians the designated shops they can buy the subsidised rice. The Executive Director, ED, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev David Ugolor, said “I see the plan by the Federal Government to subsidize rice so that Nigerians can buy a bag of 50kg at N40,000 as a short-term measure. This is a good approach to address the high rate of poverty in the country as many people are no longer able to afford two meals a day. The use of identification mediums such as the NIN and phone numbers to control access seem to be government option of ensuring that the commodity gets to the intended audience. But the truth is that the population of poor and hungry Nigerians is far more than those that have NIN.

However, the usual occurrence is that the commodity will be hijacked and smuggled to private shops to sell at higher prices. The situation we found ourselves in the country is most unfortunate. Ordinarily, once the government announces a programme, citizens should be able to get the rice at designated shops to make purchases with ease. If you take example from the time fuel was cheap in the country, marketers were smuggling the product to neighbouring countries to sell.  Why do you think the sale of rice will be different? Any measure to ensure that the rice gets to the intended persons is welcomed. In the long term, the government should evolve workable policies to reduce the hardship Nigerians are currently facing. If the commodity will be freely available for people at the grassroots to buy at N40,000 per 50kg bag, it is better than buying it at the current rate which ranges from N80,000 to N110,000 and even more. Government should implement targeted Subsidies and Vouchers to further reduce the price of basic food items to address affordability issues. In addition, cash transfer programmes should be implemented in collaboration with independent monitors to provide direct financial support to beneficiaries. This approach has been successful in other contexts, reducing the risks associated with physical distribution, such as diversion and logistical challenges.

Improving the Social Register: A well-maintained and accurate social register is critical for identifying and reaching the poor and most vulnerable population. These should be the first target for the subsidised food items. Decentralised Distribution Centres: Establish decentralised distribution centres across the country especially in rural and remote areas to reduce travel burdens on the poorest households in a n attempt to purchase the commodity. These centres should be accessible, well-stocked, and managed transparently to prevent shortages and ensure timely availability of food supplies.

The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, said, “ActionAid Nigeria recognises the Federal Government for acknowledging the economic hardship faced by Nigerians due to high inflation and taking steps to mitigate it. “However, we believe that the subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag of rice is still unaffordable for many Nigerians, particularly those living in poverty. To make this intervention truly pro-poor, we recommend further subsidies to reduce the cost and reach the most vulnerable populations. We also express concern that relying solely on NIN or phone numbers for identification may exclude vulnerable populations like the elderly, IDPs, rural communities, or those without access to identification services. To address this, we suggest accepting alternative forms of identification, such as voter’s cards or community verification by community leaders, to ensure wider coverage. This way, we can ensure fair distribution among families in rural communities without incidences of fraud. In addition to this intervention, ActionAid Nigeria recommends implementing a gradual price reduction plan to make rice more affordable for the masses, supporting local rice production to reduce reliance on imports and stabilise prices, and establishing an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution process.

Supporting local rice production is a crucial factor in reducing reliance on imports and stabilising prices. By investing in local agriculture, the government can ensure a steady supply of rice, reduce the burden on foreign exchange, and create jobs for Nigerians. To ensure the subsidised rice reaches the intended beneficiaries, the government must prioritise its availability across the country. This can be achieved by decentralising distribution channels and making the rice accessible in various locations, including rural areas and community centres as earlier mentioned.  Additionally, the government should consider partnering with local organisations and community leaders to facilitate distribution and ensure that the rice reaches the most vulnerable populations. By doing so, the government can guarantee that the subsidised rice is widely available, easily accessible, and effectively addresses the food security needs of Nigerians. For accountability’s sake, establishing an independent monitoring mechanism is essential to ensure transparency in the distribution process. This would prevent fraud and ensure that the subsidised rice reaches the intended beneficiaries. This will build trust in the government’s interventions.

The Lagos State Government has announced the commencement of Phase II of its ‘Ounje Eko’ Food Discount Market on September 1. The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, disclosed this in a news conference on Wednesday at the Alausa Secretariat. Lagos successfully implemented Phase I of the Ounje Eko Food Discount Market across its 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas. The temporary markets, which also took place at the Alausa, Secretariat and Lekki Phase I, operated on Sundays to provide selected food items at a 25 per cent discount. Its over six editions, reached over 250,000 beneficiaries across the state, ensuring essential food items were accessible to citizens, regardless of economic constraints. Residents across Lagos enjoyed a 25% discount on a variety of food items, including rice, beans, garri, bread, eggs, tomatoes, pepper, tatashe, and onions.

The commissioner said to further reduce the impact of high prices, the governor had approved commencement of Phase II of the Ounje Eko market. Ms Olusanya said, “On behalf of the Lagos State Government, we announce the commencement of the ‘Ounje Eko’ Food Discount Market Phase II, an initiative aimed at alleviating the impact of rising food prices on our citizens. This programme aligns with Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to supporting Lagos residents through innovative and impactful initiatives. The success and wide acclaim of the first phase of the project have shown us the substantial impact such initiatives can have on improving the lives of our citizens. In response to numerous requests from the public, the governor has decided to expand and enhance this initiative.’’ Ms Olusanya noted that the programme became more pertinent with food inflation reaching 40.9, placing the price of staple food items beyond the reach of many households, and its attendant social implications.

“This second phase will commence on September 1, 2024 and will run for 8 weeks across 64 locations, including the 57 LGAs/LCDAs, Alausa Secretariat, Lekki Phase 1, University of Lagos and the Lagos State University. It will also take place at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Lagos State University of Education and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.  The markets will operate from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Markets at the Alausa Secretariat and the institutions, such as UNILAG, LASU, LASUSTECH, LASUED, and LASUTH, will take place on Fridays. However, the market for Mushin LGA will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Fresh Food Hub in Idi-Oro. The food items available at the markets will include a maximum cap purchasable of 5kg each for rice, beans, and garri, 2 loaves of bread, 1 crate of egg, 2kg of tomatoes, and 1kg each for pepper, tatashe, and onion per individual. It is important to note that the prices of these food items have increased over the past few months, varying from one location to another,” Ms Olusanya said. She also promised that the markets would operate seamlessly in collaboration with the necessary agencies.

She added, “To ensure smooth operations, each market will be managed by a market leader, supported by eight ministry staff, four representatives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter. There will also be two representatives from the LGAs/LCDAs, typically the Head of Department for Agriculture and the supervisor. We will also receive support from volunteers and local government chairmen. In collaboration with Payment Service Providers such as Money Master PSB by GLO, MoMo PSB by MTN, Smartcash PSB by Airtel, Palmpay, Hydrogen by Access Bank, and Traction, all transactions will be digitalised. No cash transactions will occur at any market location, enhancing accountability and convenience. For any transaction issues, such as declined but debited transactions, citizens are advised to contact their respective banks. “We have made provisions to ensure a comfortable and hassle-free experience at all market locations. Adequate seating, canopies, and convenience facilities will be available. For any issues or complaints, citizens should approach the market leader, who will be wearing a branded red reflective jacket or other staff officials in branded lemon reflective jackets.

To guarantee safety and orderliness, we are engaging security and support personnel, including the mobile police, Rapid Response Squad and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps. The Lagos State Traffic Management Agency for traffic management, Civil Defence will also be represented and the Lagos State Ambulance Service for medical emergencies. The Lagos State Waste Management Authority for cleanliness during and after the market hours.’’ NAN