By Isaac Asabor
Nigeria, a nation known for its vibrant culture, bustling markets, and flavorful cuisine, is currently grappling with a crisis that strikes at the heart of its people: food inflation. Lagos, for instance, which remains the country’s economic hub, has become a battleground where ordinary citizens face the harsh reality of rising food costs. As they queue up at roadside food stalls, popularly called “Mama Puts” their meager budgets stretch thinner, and the aroma of affordable meals becomes a distant memory.
Picture this: A bustling Lagos
street corner, where the sun beats down relentlessly. The air is thick with the
scent of fried plantains and spicy jollof rice. Yet, for many Lagosians, these
tantalizing aromas are bitter-sweet. As food prices soar, the once-affordable
street food now feels like a luxury.
Mama Puts, once the lifeline
for those seeking a quick and inexpensive meal, now find themselves caught in a
precarious situation. Their profit margins shrink as the cost of ingredients
skyrockets. The woman who used to sell steaming bowls of amala struggles to
keep her business afloat. The man with the sizzling suya grill watches his
loyal customers dwindle, their wallets too thin to indulge.
“Madam, how much for a plate of fried rice?”
asks a weary commuter, wiping sweat from his brow. The food vendor hesitates, her
eyes darting to the price list. “it is ₦1000 today,” she replies, her voice
apologetic. The man’s face falls; he can barely afford half that amount. He
walks away, stomach grumbling, wondering how he will feed, not to talk of his
family tonight.
At a nearby Mama Put, a young
girl clutches a few crumpled naira notes. She gazes longingly into a bowl
filled with wraps of “Eba”, tempting making her to salivate. “Just two wraps,
please,” she pleads. The vendor shakes her head. “Sorry, dear. It is ₦200 each
now compulsorily with meat or “Ponmo”. The girl’s eyes well up; she walks away,
her hunger unmet.
Given the unprecedented hunger
situation in the land, economists and food security experts point to several
factors exacerbating the crisis, saying that the situation is been caused by
rising transportation costs. Experts’ view as to the cause of the food crises
cannot be farfetched as the north-south divide in Nigeria plays a crucial role.
The north, a breadbasket of agricultural produce, supplies the south. However,
inefficient transport infrastructure hampers the flow of goods, even as diesel
prices rise, so do food prices.
In a similar vein, not a few
experts and casual commentators are linking inflationary pressure to the
prevailing hunger in the land. Added to the pressure is the impacting food
costs, particularly as the prices of peppers, tomatoes, palm oil, garri and rice
prices have climbed, leaving families struggling to put meals on the table.
Further worsening the situation is the price of cooking gas that is
unprecedentedly soaring.
Added to the foregoing factors
is the retrogressive impact emanating from fuel subsidy removal. In fact, the
removal of fuel subsidies has a domino effect. As fuel prices rise,
transportation costs soar, thereby unarguably affecting food distribution and
accessibility.
However, Lagosians are
resilient, but their resilience is tested daily, and not a few observers and
consumers alike are unanimous with the view that to combat food inflation,
there is the need for urgent solutions.
Still proffering solution to
the food crises, not a few commentators and consumers are opining that there is
the need for governments’ investments in Infrastructure, arguing that improved
roads, railways, and storage facilities can streamline food distribution in
order to benefit both producers and consumers.
There is also the school of
thought that says to boost local food production, there is the need to
encourage small-scale farming by empowering local farmers, arguing that when
communities grow their own food, they become less dependent on costly imports.
In a similar vein, there are
resonating calls for the subsidization of essential goods as targeted subsidies
for staple foods can ease the burden on low-income households.
However, as the common man
navigate the maze of rising food prices, it is expedient for everyone to
remember that hunger knows no boundaries. The roadside food sellers, popularly
called “Mama Puts”, who were once the heartbeat of our streets, deserve
governments’ supports. Let the government, through policies directed to boost
the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector of the economy as a way
of empowering Nigerians engage in roadside food businesses, not just for
affordable meals, but for a future where no one goes to bed hungry.
Without recourse to campaign of
calumny in this context, it is germane to recall that since President Bola
Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023 that the affordability of roadside foods
in Nigeria has become a pressing concern for the common man. In fact, despite
the urgent need to address food security, the situation has worsened, leaving many
struggling to afford basic meals. In fact, the scarcity of affordable food
items has reached an acute level, impacting vulnerable populations across the
country. Unfortunately, the government’s priorities seem misplaced, as
evidenced by the N90 billion subsidy allocated for pilgrims to Mecca and
Jerusalem, which provides no tangible return on investment.
It will also be recalled in
this context that in response to this crisis, President Tinubu declared a state
of emergency on food security, recognizing the urgency of the situation. His
directive aims to safeguard the availability, accessibility, and affordability
of food for all Nigerians. However, more needs to be done. The government must
take immediate action to alleviate the burden on the proverbial common man by
implementing effective policies, supporting local food production, and ensuring
fair pricing. Only through concerted efforts can we prevent further suffering
and ensure that no one goes hungry in our nation.
Post a Comment