Metro

Nigerian govt insists no food shortage in the country as Nigerians groan

Published

9 months ago

February 7, 2024

Despite the hardship fuelled by high cost of living which has led to lots of Nigerians going through severe hunger, the President Bola Tinubu-led administration insists there is no food shortage in the country.

This position was arrived at following a closed door meeting held by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, with the National Security Adviser, (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and some ministers at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, over food security and protests staged by angry Nigerians in some states over the hardship they are going through.

Others who were part of the meeting which was aimed at addressing the precarious economic situation, included the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso, Ministers of Education, Dr Tahir Mamman Finance, Wale Edun, Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari and that of State for Agriculture, Sabi Abdullahi.

While briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said though President Tinubu was worried over the development, there was no need to panic as there was enough food in the country.

Idris said Tinubu had directed that the situation should be arrested by the Presidential Committee in order to reduce hardship on the populace.

“We just rounded off a meeting. It is a special presidential committee to address the issue of food shortage or lack of enough food on the table of most Nigerians,” Idris said.

The Minister insisted that there is enough food in the country, but lamented that some elements are trying to take advantage of the high food prices and the depreciation of naira to cause havoc.

“This is just the beginning of that meeting. It is going to continue tomorrow and day after tomorrow.

“The government is very concerned about what Nigerians are going through, especially what has happened in Minna and Kano, and therefore government is taking some action to ensure that Nigerians have some relief in terms of the availability of food on the table.

“Of course, this meeting is not by itself exhaustive. It’s just like I said, the beginning. It is going to continue tomorrow and the day after.

“Now, some of these will involve unlocking the foods that are available in most of the storage facilities, National Food Reserve, around the country. You know that the Federal Minister of Agriculture has some food reserves. That is going to be made available to Nigerians,” the Minister said.

Related Topics:Featured Food Shortage Nigeria

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Metro

EU launches initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria

Published

1 hour ago

November 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The European Union (EU) has launched an initiative to reintegrate over 417,661 out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northwestern parts of the country.

Mrs. Tobi Ransomed, who is the consortium lead, disclosed this during the launching of the “Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North West Nigeria Program” (ABEP), held in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State, on Thursday.

While declaring the event open, Ransomed noted that the high rate of out-of-school children in the region required a holistic approach from all relevant stakeholders to ensure these children reached their potential.

Speaking further, she said the ABEP three-year pilot program would be implemented through Save the Children International, PLAN, and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAG) across twelve local government areas in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

“Data from Save the Children International (SCI), has shown that 10% of the world’s out-of-school children are in Nigeria, with over 10 million primary school-age children not in school. Approximately 25% of girls and 10% of boys in the country have been victims of sexual violence,” she stated.

“The program aims to increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative and accelerated education programs for 324,000 young girls and boys, as well as 32,400 persons with disabilities, supporting their transition into formal or non-formal education.

“This project plans to increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education, and green job opportunities for 60,000 youths and 6,000 persons with disabilities, with 20,000 beneficiaries in each participating state.

“The overall objective is to contribute to the empowerment of the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, and youth, by providing access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and conflict-sensitive education in northwestern Nigeria with a special focus on Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States,” she stated.

Metro

World Bank pledges $3b to support Zambia’s development goals

Published

20 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The World Bank Group has pledged to avail Zambia with approximately $3 billion to support the country’s development goals under the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for 2025-2029, with nearly half of the funds already disbursed.

World Bank Country Manager, Achim Fock, who made this known at the CPF launch at the Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka on Wednesday, outlined the global lender’s focus areas, which included enhancing jobs, human capital, and climate resilience.

Fock highlighted that $200 million had been approved to strengthen Zambia’s social protection programs, including the Refugee and Host Community Project.

He also expressed optimism for upcoming approvals, including the Climate and Economic Resilience Financing and the Zambia-Tanzania Interconnector.

Zambia’s Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, who also spoke at the event, noted that 2.3 million Zambian households have so far benefited from social protection interventions such as the Cash for Work Programme, emphasizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives amid crises like the recent drought.

Musokotwane further reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting lives during times of crises such as the recent drought.

“More than two thirds of the Zambian population was affected by the drought. It was the government’s view that the first priority was to save lives,” Musokotwane stated.