The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday engaged in a panic debate on hunger and hardship facing the citizens across the country, fearing attack and revolt from the hungry and angry Nigerians.
The debate followed a motion, titled: “Urgent Need to address Food Insecurity and Market Exploitation of Consumables in Nigeria ”, sponsored by Senator Sunday Karimi Steve representing Kogi West Senatorial District and co-sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume Mohammed representing Borno South Senatorial District.
Senator Karimi raised the alarm that prices of food and consumables were becoming unbearable for citizens due to high cost, inflation, and the continued weakening of currency with attendant worst living conditions.
To support his submission, he referred to the Bureau of Statistics’ recent data which showed that, “food inflation in the country skyrocketed to 40.66% on a year-on-year basis, a significant increase from the 24.82% recorded in May 2023.”
Karimi posited that the market price of food items such as beans, maize, rice paddy, yam, tomatoes, and onions which initially rose by about 40% after the removal of petroleum subsidy has now increased to over 100% to 300% without any attributable reason for the increase in prices.
To worsen the trend, the lawmaker said: “There is a general attitude of get rich quickly or get rich by all means, leading to many Nigerians to jettison being their brother’s keepers and exploiting one another to make abnormal profits.
Senator Ali Ndume who is a co-sponsor of the bill emphasized that the upper legislative chamber needs to have a thorough look at the motion, explaining that Nigeria has been listed among African countries likely to face a food crisis for the first time.
Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District, drew the attention of the upper chamber to a report by Action Against Hunger World Food Program, which indicated “that over 32 million people are expected to face critical hunger crises and emerging levels between June and August in Nigeria.
Hardship: Senate Fears Attack By Angry Nigerians
