Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has expressed deep concern over the rising cost of living and food scarcity in Nigeria. In an interview with BBC Hausa, he stated that the federal government’s inability to address these issues is a major challenge, and some ministers are even unable to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the matter.
Ndume, who recently sponsored a motion to address the food crisis in the country, warned that if the government does not take urgent action, the situation could lead to famine and starvation, especially among children. He cited the example of Katsina State, where children are already suffering from malnutrition due to food scarcity.
The senator emphasized that the government needs to take immediate action to address the food crisis, including meeting with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution. He expressed disappointment that the government had not taken any concrete steps to address the issue, despite its promise to do so.
Ndume’s motion, which was co-sponsored by Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, highlighted the warning by the World Food Programme that 82 million Nigerians are likely to face food insecurity in the next five years. The senators urged the government to take action, lest they forget that Nigeria is grappling with both soaring prices and a severe food shortage.
“We fear that a day may come when even if someone has the financial means to purchase food, they will go to the market and find none available,” Ndume said.
