Senate backs food stamp initiative to address food insecurity

Business a.m

The Nigerian Senate has proposed the introduction of a food stamps programme to mitigate the effects of food shortages across the country. 

The motion to introduce food stamps in Nigeria was proposed by Ali Ndume, the Senate Chief Whip, and was adopted by the senate during a plenary session on Tuesday. 

In presenting the motion, Ndume explained that food stamps are a type of government assistance that has been used in the United States since 1939 to provide food aid to low-income families and individuals. Ndume argued that such a programme would be a valuable tool to help the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria, who have been hit hardest by rising food prices and other economic hardships. 

Ndume highlighted the alarming findings of the Cadre Harmonisé Analysis on food insecurity, which estimated that by 2024, 26.5 million people in Nigeria would face high levels of food insecurity. The report also highlighted a rise in the number of people facing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity, from an estimated 4.4 million in 2022 to over 7 million in 2024.

According to Ndume, the main factors driving the projected increase in food insecurity in Nigeria are conflict, climate change, and other socio-economic factors. He explained that the ongoing conflicts in the country have led to displacement, loss of livelihoods, and a disruption of food production and distribution. 

Ndume observed that the recent rise in food prices has led to a wave of protests across the country. In many cities, people have taken to the streets to voice their concerns about the rising cost of food and the impact it is having on their ability to feed themselves and their families.

The senator stated that while the demand for higher wages and increased government support for workers is important, it is not enough to address the problem of food insecurity. He argued that a time-tested public assistance programme, such as the proposed food stamps programme, would be more effective in helping people to afford food and meet their basic needs.

“The clamour for wage increase and work support cannot alone guarantee a more effective way of addressing food insecurity without the introduction of time-tested public assistance programme, as contemplated by this motion with particular emphasis on the need for immediate food support across the country,” he said. 

Sadiq Umar from Kwara North, who also spoke during the plenary, echoed the call for the implementation of a food stamps programme. He agreed that such a programme would be an effective way to help people in need and reduce food insecurity in the country. Barau Jibrin,the deputy senate president, who was presiding over the session, also expressed his support for the idea. He stressed that address the current hardship in Nigeria if implemented.

Jibrin urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to collaborate with development partners and other relevant stakeholders, such as the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, to explore the possibility of introducing a similar programme in Nigeria.