The Federal Government of Nigeria, national and international partners have launched an appeal seeking US$306 million to fast-track food assistance, nutrition supplies and services, clean water, healthcare, and protection support to people in severe need during the period.
This is just as governors in the northeast region are meeting to strategise on policies to revive the econonies of the six states in the region.
This appeal is for a rapid response to the deteriorating food security and nutrition crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states this lean season between May to September 2024, a statement issued by the United Nations Information Center has said.
Announcing the release of $11 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund to jumpstart the emergency response, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall said, “I am confident that we have the capacity to address these increased needs in support of Government efforts, what we need now are resources. Joining hands together, pooling resources, to save lives and stop the suffering”.
In the BAY states, some 4.8 million people are estimated to be facing severe food insecurity, the highest levels in seven years, according to the Government-led Cadre Harmonisé analysis released in March this year.
Children, pregnant and lactating women, older persons, and people living with disabilities are among those who are most vulnerable. The appeal, the lean season food security and nutrition crisis multisector plan, is targeting 2.8 million of these people for urgent interventions.
“This food and nutrition crisis, which has been compounded by soaring food prices, is primarily due to continued conflict and insecurity in the BAY states, alongside climate change impacts. It threatens to become catastrophic without immediate and coordinated intervention.
“The prices of staple foods like beans and maize have increased by 300 to 400 per cent over the past year following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the depreciation of the naira. Inflation is outpacing the ability of families to cope, making essential food items unaffordable.
“Malnutrition rates are of great concern. Approximately 700,000 children under five are projected to be acutely malnourished over the next six months, including 230,000 who are expected to be severely acutely malnourished and at risk of death if they do not receive timely treatment and nutrition support,” the statement said.
Speaking at the launch of the plan, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar said: “The mobilization of funding and resources to address this lean season food security and nutrition crisis envisaged in the north-eastern part of the country is a step in the right direction in complementing the Federal Government’s efforts to prevent the deaths of people as a result of malnutrition-related complications, adoption of negative coping mechanisms and other health related issues among others.”
“UNICEF is deeply concerned about the escalating food security and nutrition crisis in the BAY states. The alarming rise in severe acute malnutrition among children underscores the urgent need for immediate action.
“This year alone, we have seen around 120,000 admissions for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition with complications, far exceeding our estimated target of 90,000. We must ensure that lifesaving nutrition commodities reach every child in need. This is not just a call to action; it is a race against time to save lives and protect the future of millions of vulnerable children,” Dr Rownak Khan, the Acting Representative of UNICEF Nigeria, said.
Northeast Governors Meet
Governors of the Northeast of the country are strategizing to come up with policies to revive the Boko Haram- ravaged economies of the six states in the region.
Governors in the state are putting their hopes in sectors that agriculture and solid minerals to attract investor and rebuild businesses
Governor of Borno State Prof. Babagana Zulum, while noting the rising cost of foodstuff in the country, harped on the need to revamp the economic condition of the Northeast subregion because, as he put it, palliatives cannot be a permanent solution to the problem.
On the primary issue which has stifled economic activities, he said governors in the sub-region will continue to work closely with relevant security agencies to overcome the challenge of insecurity that has been a common problem.
Zulum who was speaking while declaring the opened 10th meeting of the North East Governors Forum in Bauchi on Friday, also stressed the need for the development of local resources to stimulate economic growth and development.
Governor Zulum explained that the Northeast subregion has vast land for the cultivation of both food and cash crops, while animal husbandry is another area that deserves the attention of investors
Zulum, who is the chairman of the forum, similarly argued that there are a lot of mineral resources in the subregion that are yet to be developed as, according to him, preliminary investigations have revealed that these mineral resources exist in commercial quantities.
He said all states in the region must make deliberate efforts to revive their economies and restore confidence in the electorates’ hearts to wither the country’s current hard economic realities.
Professor Zulum explained that the sub-region is endowed with natural fertile land adequate to support agricultural activities, hence the need to make agriculture a hub to attract investors.
He said with proper agric mechanisation and modernisation, the North East sub-region could not only feed itself but the country as a whole.
He said while noting the relevance of youths in supporting food security, the North East Governors’ Forum will make deliberate efforts to empower youths through skills acquisition.
Governor Babagana Zulum spoke of the need to encourage investors to come and make the export drive of the Northeast subregion a reality.
Welcoming participants of the meeting earlier, the host, Governor Bala Mohammed noted that their frequency in meeting clearly demonstrates the seriousness with which they approach issues of zonal unity, the challenges facing the subregion and the resolve to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorate in their respective states.
He applauded the forum chairman, Governor Babagana Zulum for his commitment and exemplary leadership that sustained the forum as a formidable regional bloc, stressing that his effort, despite being made up of different parties, has continued to grow the from strength to strength since its inception 10 years ago.
“Since our previous meeting here in March 2024, so much has changed in the socio-economic and political landscape of the country. Topping the list of political changes is the emergence of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Similarly, a brand new youthful Governor has emerged in Taraba State in the person of His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas”.
Governor Bala Mohammed therefore congratulated the Taraba state governor for revival of the historical Nwonye Fishing Festival, an event that dates back over 90 years, but which went into oblivion a long time ago, saying that from the video footage and newspaper photographs, the festival was indeed a spectacle to behold.
He added, “Beyond the fanfare, those are the kinds of events that rekindle a people’s heritage, cement bonds of unity, deepen community engagement, boost tourism and generally re-energize the economic landscape to provide limitless avenues for the people to exploit and enjoy the opportunities in the environment”
Mohammed recalled that the past one year has experienced some convulsions as the Federal Government initiated policies aimed at restructuring the economy, but which fuelled inflation, with transportation and food being the worst hit, hence the huge public outcry on these policies is understandable.
“In Bauchi State, we are grateful for the intervention of the Federal Government and for the understanding shown by the President. As has been widely reported, we spent an additional N2.5 billion to augment the Federal Government intervention. Obviously, measures by both the Federal and State Governments, though very helpful, have lived up to the name: palliative, only temporary measures. In the long run, governments must incentivize individuals for self-reliance and sustainable growth”.