Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has voiced his concern over the escalating cost of living and worsening food scarcity in Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Ndume slammed the federal government’s inability to effectively tackle these critical issues.
Ndume stated that the major problem with the current government is its inaccessibility, alleging that even some ministers struggle to meet with President Bola Tinubu, let alone members of the National Assembly, who have pressing concerns from their constituencies that need addressing.
He expressed these concerns shortly after he and Senator Sunday Steve Karimi sponsored a motion aimed at addressing the country’s food crisis.
The motion was intended to draw urgent attention to the severe food insecurity threatening millions of Nigerians.
The World Food Programme has predicted that 82 million Nigerians could face food insecurity over the next five years.
Ndume stressed the urgency of the situation, warning that without prompt government action, the country could experience famine and widespread starvation, particularly affecting children.
“We want to draw the government’s attention to the fact that Nigeria is not only facing a high cost of living but also food scarcity,” Ndume stated.
He urged the President to take immediate steps to mitigate these challenges.
Ndume cited the example of Katsina State, where children are already suffering from malnutrition due to food shortages.
He also mentioned the dire situations in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying from hunger, warning that Nigeria is on a similar path.
He expressed disappointment in the government’s failure to take concrete steps to address the crisis, despite previous promises.
Ndume called for immediate action, including consultations with experts and stakeholders to devise effective solutions.
“What we want the government to do is to sit with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution to the problem. We are urging the government to take action, lest they forget that Nigeria is grappling with both soaring prices and a severe food shortage.”
The outspoken lawmaker therefore warned, “We fear that a day may come when even if someone has the financial means to purchase food, they will go to the market and find none available.”
