Nigerians Spend 65% Of Salaries On Food – UN

Date: 2024-07-04

According to a news report from Leadership, the United Nations (UN) has described as unacceptable the statistical data showing that Nigerians spend over 65 percent of their salaries on food, compared to five to six percent in other regions.

Dr. Hameed Nuru, a veterinarian and food security advocate with the UN World Food Programme (WFP), made this statement in Ilorin, Kwara State, while delivering the maiden annual lecture of the University of Ilorin's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The lecture was held in honour of Professor Saka Nuru, a former deputy vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the first professor from the Ilorin Emirate.

Nuru, whose lecture was titled, “Navigating the nexus of food security, safety and diseases: a holistic sustainable future and economic prosperity,” suggested that the federal and state governments should make a dedicated annual budgetary allocation for food security.

He disclosed that 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, a replica of the situation in Somalia.

“The government should come up with a policy that will give the citizens access to food. It's undignifying to always hand over food to people without developing their economic capacity to access the food themselves”, he said.

The lecturer, who said that the country's future will never be secure without food security, added, “It's not the oil, and not the diamond, but food security that can guarantee Nigeria's future.”

Nuru, the director of the African Union Global Office and a representative to the African Union and Economic Commission for Africa, also said that food security is linked with national security.

He suggested that Nigeria's governments and people should prioritise and promote the nation's indigenous food against processed and imported food, saying that Africa used about $60.8 billion to import food annually.

“Africa should move from agriculture for the stomach to agriculture for wealth. Africa should strengthen agriculture production to address food security,” he said.

Nuru also opined that government policy should attract more youth into the agricultural sector, saying that “the sector will have to be more attractive and lucrative, especially commodities, markets, transport, storage, processing, links, etc.

“Encouraging and supporting the African Free Continental trade agreement: Food commodities should be the primary focus. Regional and continental trade of food and other mineral products should be encouraged.”

He said, “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, vulnerable members of host communities and people returning home after months of displacement.

“WFP has targeted 2.6 million beneficiaries in 2024 and was able to support 1.3 million beneficiaries in the first quarter of 2024.”

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ayinde Oyepitan     Peter Amogbonjaye     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     T And K FOODS     Ajike People Support Centre     Wasiu Odewale     Kolo     Akume     Hassan Saliu     Government House     COEASU     Marufat Oladosu     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Amule Elementary School     Rapheal Ashaolu     Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     KWASIEC     AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Yahaya Dumoye     Mohammed Lawal     Turaki     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Baba-Isale     Sanusi Abubakar     Ilorin Amusement Park     Isiaka Danmeromu     Baruten     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Otoge     Offa Poly     Ahman Pategi     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Basic Education Certificate Examination     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Mike Omotosho     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Gobir     Kwasu     QuickWin     Rafiu Olasile     AGILE Programme     SARS     Ronke Adeyemi     Na\'Allah     Oba Of Jebba     Umar Ayinla Saro     Ilorin     Saad Omo Iya     NaAllah     Kuliyan Geri     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Wasiu Onidugbe     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     2017 Budget     Abdullahi Biffo     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Kwara State Polytechnic     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     United Nigeria Congress Party     Metro Park     Kola Olota     Oke-Kura     Hassan A. Saliu     Pacify Labs     Maigida     Solomon Edojah     Adijat Adebiyi     GGDSS Pakata     Kwara Apc     Saba Mamman Daniel     CACOVID Palliatives     Oladimeji Thompson     Najim Yaasin     Niyi Ogundiran     Olatunde Michaels    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Summit University     Lanre Issa Onilu     Hassan Oyeleke     IFK     Adesoye College     Moshood Mustapha     HICA     Binta Sulyman     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Mope Dasuki Belgore     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Unilorin     Muazam Nayaya     Ali Ahmad     IDPU     Peculiar Allowance     Muritala Awodun     Albert Ogunsola     Maimunat Oniyangi     Bola Iyabo Ibiyeye Adisa     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Samari     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Saka Isau     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Nnazua     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Jumoke Gafar     Baruba     Maja     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Presidential Election     Erin-ile     Sai Kayi     Amusement Park     Saba Mamman Daniel     Paul Olawoore     Kawu     Kisra     Ojo Fadumila     Ilorin General Hospital     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Olugbense     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     VADA     Kwara Restoration Project     Neo Mundo Ltd     CKNG     David Oyedepo     Charles Ibitoye     Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan     Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf     Bio Ibrahim     Durbar Festival     Abdulrazaq Akorede     Oro Grammar School     Kwara Hotel     Tunji Oyawoye     Madawaki     Oba Abdulrahim     Funmilayo Zubair     FERMA     Rebecca Bake     Allocation     Belgore     Vasolar Consultoria     Aiyedun     Ajasse-Ipo     Funmi Salau     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Ilorin South Constituency     Oloruntoyosi Thomas