President Bola Tinubu’s administration has reportedly allocated ₦9.74 billion in 2024 to procure and distribute essential food items aimed at addressing the ongoing food crisis that has been affecting various regions across Nigeria. This expenditure was disclosed by BudgIT, a civic-tech organization that champions transparency and accountability in government spending, through its GovSpend platform.
The report sheds light on how the funds were utilized, with a significant portion dedicated to procuring and distributing staples such as rice, beans, maize, and other crucial commodities. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security spearheaded the initiative, partnering with various suppliers to ensure the delivery of palliative food items to federal constituencies across the country.
Key interventions included the distribution of rice, beans, and garri, aimed at alleviating hunger in vulnerable communities grappling with severe food insecurity. The findings from BudgIT’s platform revealed that each constituency received payments of approximately ₦85.45 million between February and November 2024 to facilitate the procurement and distribution of these critical food supplies.
The food intervention program reached various states across Nigeria, including Kano, Ogun, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Adamawa, Kaduna, Jigawa, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Bauchi, Rivers, Borno, Sokoto, and Enugu, with the total expenditure amounting to ₦9.74 billion. This initiative aims to ensure that millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural and impoverished areas, receive the support they need during this challenging period.
In light of this, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South in the National Assembly, has called on the federal government to introduce food vouchers as a means to provide more direct relief to millions of Nigerians suffering from hunger and economic hardship. The senator made this call during a press conference in Washington, D.C., attended by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Olayemi Cardoso and Finance Minister Wale Edun. Senator Ibrahim stated that food vouchers could potentially benefit approximately 20 million Nigerians, reduce inflationary pressures, and help stabilize the value of the naira.
The senator emphasized the urgency of addressing hunger and food insecurity in the country, warning that failure to act could lead to a national crisis. He also urged the CBN and Ministry of Finance to align their policies to ensure greater economic stability and alleviate the burdens faced by the Nigerian populace.
