Post COVID-19 and food security in Nigeria

 


If you’re still thinking nothing is changing owing to the effect of coronavirus pandemic concerning Nigeria citizens and food security, this article is here to shed light on the post experience of food security after COVID-19 retreat. Food security is a phenomenon which is multidimensional with economic, environmental and social aspects. Food security is also defined as a condition where all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life (World Food Summit, 2003). Food is, no doubt, the most basic of all human survival needs. Food insecurity remains prevalent, particularly in the global and in Nigeria; malnutrition has resulted in death of many of its citizens. In justifying this, before the surfacing of the coronavirus in Nigeria, farmers have suffered setback in producing food to meet the teaming Nigeria market this include Boko haram insurgency in North East, herdsman and farmers crises in North West and Middle belt, poor supply of farm inputs, storage facilities, communal dispute and kidnapping, climate change etc, have all affected farmers settlement and food production in Nigeria.  


Presently, with World wagging war against COVID-19 pandemic with Nigeria inclusive, the situation of food insecurity is on the rise; people are hungry in the society due to shortage of food, shortage of cash, and hike in the price of available food commodities in the market.  This also is the resultant effect of producers, transporters, traders and other production value chain actors asked to stay at home, is thereby implicating a stagnated economy courtesy of COVID-19 induced policies and regulations. According to UNFAO analysis in March 2020, indicate that 4 million people from 16 States and FCT will experience food and nutrition insecurity between March-May 2020. At this point it is expected that the COVID-19 has retreated. These negative observable changes are happening due to less attention to food security and livelihoods of the population continues as compare to funding the health sector, which is another looming disease facing the entire population, if not being considered for strategic planning by governments.


Nigeria is one of the fast growing populated Country with rapid development. Now with the novel Coronavirus pandemic and numbers of its negative impact on the Nigerians welfare and the food security, there is urgent need to look forward to safeguard Nigeria citizens. Federal government should look into her land border closures, policies on lockdown, pay attention to the citizens, adopting a variety of global and local instruments to protect the land and ensure security for both crop and animal production. In conclusion, Federal government and parliamentary should review her budget and polices on Agriculture to address the foreseen shortage of foods production and availability to meet the teaming population demand. Jimoh, Communication Officer, Cal-Maji Foundation, writes via  [email protected]

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