Professor Abdulazeez Lawal, a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has argued that the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the exchange rate have created challenges for many Nigerians in accessing food items.
Lawal made this assertion during his presentation at the 244th UNILORIN Inaugural Lecture, titled ‘Making Ends Meet With Food Security.’ He cited data from the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which revealed that the consumer price index increased from 22.22 percent to 24.41 percent between April and May 2023.
He pointed out that the food inflation rate rose from 24.61 percent in April to 24.82 percent in May 2023, representing a 5.33 percent point increase compared to the 19.5 percent recorded in May 2022.
The professor, who teaches in UNILORIN’s Faculty of Agriculture, noted that an estimated 17 million people were at risk of food insecurity in October 2022. He emphasized that unless immediate measures are taken to address the ongoing surge in food prices, Nigeria will continue to grapple with acute food insecurity.
Lawal stressed the significance of agriculture as a crucial component of the global food system, with substantial socio-economic importance for many countries, including employment generation, nutrition, and rural development. He highlighted that agriculture is likely to be the primary driver of economic and social development in the near future for numerous nations.
He also pointed out that smallholder farmers are responsible for over 80 percent of the world’s food production, and people living in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity due to limited access to food and financial resources.
With over 200 million people in Nigeria, approximately 80 percent depend on small-scale agriculture for their food requirements. Lawal recommended the improvement of agricultural production and rural livelihood activities to enhance food supplies and increase the income of farming households.
Furthermore, he advised governments at all levels to enhance funding and effectively implement food security programs. He called for policy strategies that promote technology transfer and the adoption of modern farming techniques by smallholder farmers.
Lastly, the agriculturist urged the government to prioritize the security of lives and property by implementing development and peace-building policies in conflict-affected areas.