President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2024 reportedly allocated ₦9.74 billion for the procurement and distribution of food items to tackle the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria.
This information was disclosed by BudgIT, a civic-tech organization focused on promoting transparency and accountability in government expenditures, via its GovSpend platform.
The report indicated that a substantial portion of the funds was directed towards essential food staples, including rice, beans, maize, and other vital commodities. The initiative was spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, which engaged suppliers to deliver palliative food items to federal constituencies across the country.
Key actions included the distribution of rice, beans, and garri to communities grappling with severe hunger. BudgIT’s analysis revealed that around ₦85.45 million was disbursed to each constituency from February to November 2024.
The food intervention program reached various states, including Kano, Ogun, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Adamawa, Kaduna, Jigawa, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Bauchi, Rivers, Borno, Sokoto, and Enugu, culminating in a total expenditure of ₦9.74 billion.
In a related development, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who represents Ondo South in the National Assembly, has urged the federal government to implement food vouchers as a means to alleviate hunger and hardship in the nation. 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 posited that food vouchers could directly assist around 20 million Nigerians, help curb inflation, and stabilize the naira.
He stressed that neglecting the issues of hunger and food insecurity could precipitate a national crisis. The senator also called for the CBN and the Ministry of Finance to align their policies to enhance the country’s economic stability.
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