The United Nations (UN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government to make dedicated budgetary allocation to curb food insecurity.
UN Director of World Food Programme (WFP), Africa Union Global Office, Dr. Hameed Nuru, made the call in Ilọrin, Kwara State capital.
Speaking at the maiden annual lecture of the University of Ilorin’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine themed: “Navigating nexus of food security, safety and diseases: a holistic sustainable future and economic prosperity”, Dr. Nuru said statistics at the UN shows Nigerians spend over 65 per cent of their salary on food consumption as against 5-6 per cent acceptable rate.
He said the country’s future is bleak without food security, adding that, it’s not the oil, gold, diamond and other natural resources that can guarantee Nigeria’s future but food security which is now directly linked to national security.
Stressing the need for budget on food security, UN Director said the time has come for the Nigerian government dedicate a portion of its annual budget to food security as the country is a hotspot on food insecurity among other nations.
He explained that there are about 36 active conflicts in Africa with some more that 30 years old. This is the single most important challenge to food insecurity in Nigeria and other affected countries.
Dr Nuru said Nigeria is predicted to have one million malnourished children from August this year due to conflicts, insecurity, and climate change, especially, in the North East, replica of the situation in Somalia.
He said there is need for Nigeria to harness indigenous foods adding that over $60.8 billions was spent to import food to Nigeria and other African countries in contrast with $15 trillion spent on conflict globally to buy guns and ammunition.
The UN Director urged government to come up with strategies that will make citizens have access to food rather than handing over food to people without developing their economic capacity to be able to access the food themselves.
He added that the WFP is prioritising its operations to reach 1.1 million vulnerable people every month in northern Nigeria. Those receiving assistance include displaced people living in camps or host communities, as well as vulnerable members of host communities and people returning home after months of displacement.