NewStats: 3,265,294 , 8,186,280 topics. Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025 at 10:04 AM 6k3z6s

The United Nations (UN) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government to make dedicated budgetary allocation to curb food insecurity.

The UN Director of World Food Programme (WFP) Africa Union Global Office, Dr. Hameed Nuru, made the call in Ilọrin, Kwara State capital, on Wednesday.

He spoke as the Guest Speaker at the maiden annual lecture of the University of Ilorin’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine themed: “Navigating nexus of food security, safety and diseases: a holistic sustainable future and economic economic prosperity”.

The programme was in honour of a former deputy vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University and first professor from Ilorin Emirate, Professor Saka Nuru.

According to him, statistics at the UN shows Nigerians spend over 65 per cent of their salary on food consumption as against 5-6 per cent acceptable rate, adding that “This is unacceptable”.

He said the country’s future is bleak without food security, adding that, “It’s not the oil, gold, diamond and other natural resources that can guarantee Nigeria’s future but food security which is now directly linked to national security.

“In Nigeria, you see budget for health, education and infrastructure among others but not on food security. It’s is only spread between budgets of other ministries. We need a dedicated budget for food security because time has come for it. Nigeria is a hotspot on food insecurity among other nations.

“We have about 36 active conflicts in Africa with some more that 30 years old. This is the single most important challenge to food insecurity in Nigeria and other affected countries”, he said.

Dr Nuru said Nigeria is predicted to have one million malnourished children from August this year due to conflicts, insecurity, and climate change, especially, in the North East, replica of the situation in Somalia.

He said there is need for Nigeria to harness indigenous foods adding that over $60.8 billions was spent to import food to Nigeria and other African countries in contrast with $15 trillion spent on conflict globally to buy guns and ammunition. This is sad”.

“Government should come up with policy that will make citizens have access to food. It’s undignifying to always hand over food to people without developing their economic capacity to be able to access the food themselves”, he said

“Africa should move away from agriculture for the stomach to agriculture for wealth and strengthen agriculture production to address food security.

“Government policy should attract more youth into the agricultural sector, encourage and the African Free Continental trade agreement:

“WFP is prioritising its operations to reach 1.1 million vulnerable people every month in northern Nigeria. Those receiving assistance include displaced people living in camps or host communities, as well as vulnerable of host communities and people returning home after months of displacement”, he submitted.

In her remarks, the Dean, faculty of veterinary medicine, Prof Oyebisi Azeez, said the occasion was to celebrate the legacy of Prof Nuru and reflect on impact of his work on the faculty, university and humanity/animal globally.

https://dailytrust.com/nigerian-workers-spend-65-of-salary-on-foods-un/

people spend almost all their salary on food now and borrow more to survive till they collect another one, this government is a complete disaster killing people with hunger


The government of Buhari I hated so much wasn't this bad.

somebody should please tell Tinubu to resign if he's incapable of governing this country.

He should stop listening to sycophants around him, I hope he won't go down in history as the worst president

Different countries, different scenarios.

Slytiger:
Different countries, different scenario's.

Exactly

Which 65% ? The whole salary doesn't last for 2 weeks.

Make una take time oo, UN. We no get joy for here oo.

We spend more than that

Spend all and even borrow to make hands meet

Tinubu must go

More like 75%

Lol..all this Johanna talk sef..
but as a ronuu he voted for balabluuu!

Just 2 weeks ago, I already decreed a fatwa on all APC and bulabaa propagandist on nairaland and Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and tiktok ..

Death to them all ...

edited: the meal posted by the op will cost you 4k if you choose to buy

Before nko?

Abi 100%

Nigeria should not be referred to as a country, this is the biblical hell we're in.

Most workers spend more than 100% of their salary on food, they always borrow to survive

The salary no even dey enough for food.

The druggie is a catastrophic plague upon this Corn3.

Wrong: 90% of their salary on food...

More like 95% on food, then use the remaining 5% plus loan app/ cooperative loan for transport

Hmmmmmm

Minimum wage that can't buy bag of rice
100% of the salary is spent on food only not even enough.

It's a lie abeg.... Workers now spend more than 80% on food the remaining is for transport

Slytiger:
Different countries, different scenarios.

Here in Dublin, 80% of your income goes to rent

.if the quality of food in the picture illustration is what u want to ve using ur salary to be eating..that means u will use ur full salary atleast...

Righthussle:
Which 65% ? The whole salary doesn't last for 2 weeks.

Help me ke ?? Or 200%.

I thought 80% ooo and the rest of 20% is for buying water

Not even very good food oo...
And it's getting worse by the day.
May God help us in this country

101% don't mislead the people

Mehn!!

Wrong stats, workers spend all salary on food and borrow for other necessities.

emmanuel596:
Tinubu must go

Stop wasting your energy calling for protests with that your printed placard poster above

Protests can only work in Nigeria if you can convince Igbos to your protest, na only them dey ready to sacrifice and bear pains for whatever they believe in and can put everything on the line including their businesses to let the world see their pains, now see that young Igbo man on FP who spent 3 years in detention for attending Nnamdi Kanu trial and he remains undaunted despite his ordeal but read the comments on that thread abusing him for what he believes in

Other tribes are suspicious of each other, its only how to contain the Igbos that brings us together most times due to our collective suspicion of Igbos.

No protest will work except the Igbos decides to close down Alaba, Ladipo markets in Lagos or Apo mechanic market in Abuja or Kano Central Market and jump into the streets, but if they do that we will still turn it against them by calling them IPOB and accuse them of burning Govt properties led by one Chinaza Okonkwo and all the hoodlums (including sponsored ones to disrupt any protests) will be given automatic Igbo names and we would cheer the government for ri to the occasion and stopping Igbos from burning down Lagos

So just rest with that your placard, e no go work