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.

Rotimi Atere     Yusuf Ali     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Oke-opin     Kamaldeen Gambari     SSA Youth     LAK Jimoh     Minister     KFA     Mamman Saba Jibril     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Tinubu     Pilgrims Board     Kunle Suleiman     Guber Aspirant     Yoruba     Ojo Fadumila     Aso-ofi     Abdulquawiy Olododo     Kehinde Baale     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Kwara State Television     Hakeem Lawal     Tafida     Kulende     Charcoal     Emir Of Ilorin     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Kwara State Governor     Kola Bukoye     Segun Abifarin     Sadiq Buhari     Aminu Ado Bayero     Gobir Organization Foundation     Idi-Ape     Saliu Alamoyo     Shehu Raheem Adaramaja     Mazars Consulting     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Ramadhan     Taofeek Sanusi     Titus Ashaolu     Marafan Shonga     Isiaka Gold     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Budo Egba     Kannike     Aliyu Sabi     Post Utme     Osuwa     Sulaiman Gado     Ado Ibrahim     Ayinde Oki     Abdulhakeem Amao     Sango-UITH Road     Third Estate     Matthew Babaoye     Saidu Isa     Abiodun Oyedepo     MAI Akande     Ibrahim Abikan     Onilu     National Pilot     Valsolar Consortium     Olusegun Adeniyi     Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Esinrogunjo     Olugbense     Peter Obi     Turaki     Oke-Oyi     Young Progressives Party     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Mahmud Ajeigbe     IYA ALFA NLA    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

KWASAA     Ayo Adeyemi     Segun Ogunsola     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Sulaiman Gado     Jimoh Bashir     Hauwa Nuru     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Code Of Conduct     Minimum Wage     Adebayo Salami     Igbomina     General Hospital, Offa     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     Academic Staff Union Of Universities     Sobi Hill     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     AbdulGafar Tosho     Kwabes     Tayo Awodiji     Rasheed Jimoh     Balogin Alanamu     Abraham Ojo     Saheed Popoola     First Lady     Alanamu     Jide Ashonibare     Idi-Ape     Tunde Idiagbon Road     Eleyele     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Jamiu Oyawoye     Saliu Tunde Bello     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Ibrahim Sulu Gambari     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Kolo     Lanre Issa Onilu     Valsolar Consultoria     Amule     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     GAMA     Alabi Lawal     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Olokoba     Bluenile Associates     Senate     Yemi Osinbajo     Emir Of Yashikira     Old Oyo     Reuben Paraje     Aliyu Alhassan     Ayinde Oyepitan     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Laolu Saraki     Coronavirus     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Saliu Alamoyo     Salihu Yahaya     Abdulhakeem Amao     Kamaldeen Gambari     Dan Iya     Gobir     Muritala Awodun     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Budo Egba     Tuesday Assayomo     Ahmad Lawan     Abubakar Ndakene     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Yakubu Shaaba     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations