Senator Jimoh Ibrahim of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ondo state has put forward a proposal for a food voucher system to address hunger in Nigeria. He has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance to implement this initiative as a means to directly combat poverty and food insecurity in the country.
During a speech in Washington, D.C, Senator Ibrahim explained that the food vouchers could be funded by consolidating existing palliative funds. He emphasized that this system would have a direct impact on reducing poverty, stabilizing the naira, and reducing inflation, as it would use vouchers instead of cash.
The senator estimated that up to 20 million Nigerians suffering from food insecurity could potentially benefit from this program. He also highlighted that the system would help in curbing corruption by eliminating intermediaries, such as state governments, from the distribution process, ensuring that the funds reach those in need efficiently.
In a statement quoted by The Cable, Senator Ibrahim said, “Imagine you give N100,000 per month to anybody above 18 years that is really affected by food insecurity and poverty, you see every month they draw down on this in the first one year. It makes more sense than some palliatives that have to do with solar power and things like that.”
He added, “It’s very important because when you don’t solve the problem of food and hunger, then you are looking for crisis. This is why we are saying that the economic policy of the central bank and the ministry of finance should be harmonised, and then we can have a clear account to print vouchers for food.”
Overall, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s proposal for a food voucher system aims to address hunger and poverty in Nigeria effectively, providing a sustainable solution to an ongoing issue in the country.
