…Farmers displacement will spike inflation — AFAN
…Bad roads to hike food prices, fuel scarcity — NARTO
By Ibiyemi Mathew
Amidst rising inflation and insecurity, Nigeria is set to face even more threat to its food security with flood disasters trailing torrential rainfall recently.
Following the flooding that has engulfed Nigeria in the past two weeks, Nigerians are expected to anticipate a short fall in the supply of food across the nation and an increase in prices.
Already, some parts of the country have begun to experience an increase in the price of food commodities.
Residents in states like Bayelsa who have no means of exit or entry have been made subject to experience shortage in supply and an increase in prices.
Explaining the reason for this, Kabir Ibrahim of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) explained that the flooding has destroyed many farmlands and has hindered many farmers from going to their farms to work.
He said this will definitely cumulate to an increased price in the sale of food commodities considering the hardship the flooding has occasioned.
According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Nigeria’s food security situation has worsened in the past 15 years.
Climate change, terrorist attacks and the recent flood crisis have contributed to food insecurity challenges in the country.
Also, the rise in inflation index has meant a reduction in disposable incomes as Nigerians now spend more for the same calorie levels as they did before the year began.
For the poor who spend more of their earnings on food, this has meant a reduction in calorific intake, as well as a general diminution in wealth.
Reacting also, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Mr Aloga Ogbogo speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect disclosed that the flooding has affected major road networks across the affected states, thus affecting supply and distribution of petroleum products, food produce to Nigerians.
“Because of this, the truck drivers have to take alternative routes which are longer and undeplorable. This has also resulted in increased operational cost for us as transporters.
“The present fuel scarcity in Abuja is as a result of the flooding in Kogi. Nigerians should envisage a decline in the supply of food produce particularly to the South West and some other states in the North should anticipate fuel scarcity because of this disaster.” Aloga explained.
Already, the flooding has already affected 27 out of the 36 states and notable of mention include Anambra, Kogi, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, others.
Some 1.3 million people have been displaced, over 600 lost, and more than 200,000 homes have been destroyed in flood incidents in a decade.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, had said in a statement shared on Twitter that “unfortunately, over 603 lives have been lost as of today October 16, 2022.”
“A total of 1,302,589 persons have been displaced, 2,504.095 persons have been affected, on the whole, 2,407 persons have been injured, a total of 82,053 houses are completely damaged and 121,318 are partially damaged. 108,392 hectares of farmland were partially destroyed while 332,327 hectares were destroyed including many roads and other critical infrastructure,” she had said.
Nigeria’s meteorological agency has warned that the flooding could continue until the end of November in some states in the south of the country.