Agriculture Page In an economy where many people have given up on luxury, the current rise in prices of food items is becoming a national embarrassment as households face a life of hunger and starvation, reports Festus Akanbi It is a sad irony that the reform programme of President Bola Tinubu, which was intended to reposition the economy has turned out to be an albatross one year after he unveiled his economic agenda as Nigerians groan over an unabated rise in food prices. Observers say the ripple effects of these policies, especially the removal of fuel subsidy became more evident in the skyrocketing prices of goods and services as well as the transportation costs across the country, with a ripple effect on food inflation. Last November, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said at least 26.
5 million Nigerians in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, may face a food crisis between June and August 2024. The organisation said the current cycle is happening after an unusual lean season which witnessed several shocks, ranging from persistent insecurity situations like insurgency and banditry but little did FAO realised that the scourge of food scarcity would spread to all corners of the country. As transportation costs rise in tandem with the removal of fuel subsidies, so is the cost of moving farm produce to the market where they are being sought.
Transporters blame the problem of bad roads and the high cost of diesel and othe.