As the world celebrate the International Women’s Day, small holder farmers in the FCT have raised the alarm that the wake up everyday with thought of what to eat, as well as fears of being attacked as no where is secured again in Nigeria.
The women while expressing their grief at press conference organized by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) to commemorate the International Women’s Day, lamented the inability to feed their children and send them to school.
Mrs Comfort Sunday who is a yam seller said she can no longer go to market because there is no more capital to do business with “before with N120,000 you can buy good yam to sell, but now one has to have not less than N200,000 as capital.
Another woman from Gwalada Community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Zuera Salim said “My children cannot go to school again because I cant afford to pay their school fees, I don’t know anything about ulcer but now because of lack of food I am now an ulcer patient “.
The Deputy Country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Suweba Dakwanbo Mohammed called on the need to address the pressing economic challenges facing our nation, Nigeria saying the current economic landscape, characterised by persistent inflation, exchange rate deterioration, and insecurity, demands urgent attention from all stakeholders, especially the government.
She decried that despite gains made by development partners in empowering women across Nigeria, the economic downturn has led to setbacks, with many women-owned businesses shutting down due to financial difficulties, thereby exacerbates existing gender disparities and injustices, as women are forced to bear the burden of providing for their families amidst dwindling purchasing power.
According to her, ActionAid Nigeria conducted a survey in some communities to ascertain the weight of the current situation on women and children shows most respondents saying that the current hardship has impacted 80% of their livelihood with 13% relating it to the high cost of living and 8% lamenting on the high cost of transportation.
In her words “The experiences have further deepened their fear for safety as 38% of respondent fear for their lives and that of their families as the rate of crime (Killing, stealing, and kidnapping) has increased.
“To remedy these situations most of the respondents has had to sleep hungry so their children can feed, some have taken extra job at night to augment what they do during the day, while other women have stopped their children from going to school and reduce other expense just to support feeding.
“Many churches have increased members as 38% of women said they have turn to God for hope and help, ” she said.
