TheNewsGuru

Tag: Food

  • Weak Naira: Patronise locally made products, Presidency begs Nigerians

    Weak Naira: Patronise locally made products, Presidency begs Nigerians

    The presidency believes patronage of made-in-Nigeria products is key to strengthening the naira and wants citizens to buy goods produced in the country to make that happen.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this in a press briefing with the State House Correspondents on Friday.

    “One, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to communicate very clearly to our people, that there has never been a more important time in our history to actively agree together,” he said.

    “That we will patronize and purchase made-in-Nigeria products across all value chains across all sectors.”

    He said this is one of the decisions taken by President Tinubu to ensure the continued strengthening of the Nigerian naira against other global currencies.

    The President’s media aide also highlighted government interventions such as the presidential conditional grant scheme providing 1 million nano enterprises with non-repayable grants up to N50,000 and N75 billion to 75 large manufacturers employing over 1,000 Nigerians each as some of the efforts the government is making to improve the lives of Nigeria.

    He said the President is doing everything he can to ensure that he steps in to ease the burden on families while also ensuring that he holds the public sector and the federal government of Nigeria accountable for prudent spending.

    This he noted, is demonstrated by ensuring a drastic cut down on travel expenditures, ensuring that with the temporary ban that is being put in place from April 1 on all but unnecessary foreign travel, which will save over N5 billion per quarter.

    On minimum wage, Ngelale said the President wants to bring sustainable strength to the currency before putting a new minimum wage for the workers.

    He said the discussions for the minimum wage are ongoing, but what the government does not want “is a situation in which the minimum wage continues to be what it has always been in the history of our country, which is a moving goalpost.”

    See the full statement below:

    I’m certain that everyone seated here and indeed Nigerians at large have witnessed the seismic shifts that have taken place within the nation’s foreign exchange market over the course of the last several days and the strengthening of the Nigerian Naira against the United States dollar.

    impact on not just the ability of Nigerians to you know, get effective justice in the country, but also to ensure that businesses who we are now asking around the world to invest in Nigeria have a judicial system that they can trust with respect to any litigation that could arise from business practice in the country.

    The effects are huge and the President is taking a multi sectoral and comprehensive approach to ensuring that we bring prudence to government expenditure at a time when we are restructuring the economy of the Federation in such a way that sectors that are employing our people that are empowering our people are those sectors that will be able to more easily access lending both commercially and from public sector sources.

    So the momentum of the Nigerian Naira and it’s strengthening. Nigerians should expect that to continue. Yes, we understand that there’s still going to be volatility to some extent, but we are seeing a lessening impact of that volatility and as we move forward with the interventions Mr. President is making in the foreign exchange market and will continue to make we will see increasing stability.

    And the last point we want to emphasize is that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while he’s dealing decisively with the issue of the spending power of every Naira and Kobo that Nigerians are earning today.

    He is also ensuring that we bring a sustainable strength to the currency so that when we talk about a new minimum wage, because many of our people have asked, you know government officials about when the new minimum wage is coming in, those negotiations are ongoing. But what we do not want is a situation in which the minimum wage continues to be what it has always been in the history of our country, which is a moving goalpost.

    If we do not get a firm grip on the value of our currency and it continues to be a volatile, devaluing asset, then whatever we do with the national minimum wage is going to essentially become a moot point, nullity. And so we are focused on ensuring that yes, we arrive at a new minimum wage that states can afford, and that will deal with all of the needs of Nigerian families across the country.

    But we also want to ensure that what we peg it at is something that is sustainable over a number of years based on the long term, you know, stability that we want to bring to the Nigerian Naira with the interventions we’re presently making.

    And this is the point that His Excellency Mr. President wants to emphatically make today.

    There is stability coming to the currency, we’re getting closer to it, and when the new minimum wage comes into effect it is going to be one that will be sustained over a long period of time by a stable Nigerian Naira based on the interventions being made under his leadership.

  • It costs an adult N858 to eat healthy per day – NBS

    It costs an adult N858 to eat healthy per day – NBS

    The National Average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) per adult per day was N858 in January 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has said.

    The NBS said this in its CoHD report for January 2024 released in Abuja on Saturday.

    The bureau said the CoHD is the least expensive combination of locally available items that meet globally consistent food-based dietary guidelines.

    It said it is used as a measure of physical and economic access to healthy diets.

    “This is a lower bound (or floor) of the cost per adult per day excluding the cost of transportation and meal preparation.”

    The bureau said that to compute the CoHD indicator, certain data on Retail Food Prices, Food Composition Data, and Healthy Diet Standard were required.

    The report said in January 2024, the average CoHD was highest in the South-West at N1,045 per adult per day, followed by the South- East at N986 per day.

    It said the lowest average CoHD was recorded in the North-West at N683 per adult per day.

    The NBS said at the state level, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo recorded the highest CoHD at N1,090, N1,087, and N1,063, respectively.

    The report said Katsina and Niger recorded the lowest cost at N629, followed by Kano and Jigawa at N649 and N676, respectively.

    The NBS said animal-source foods were the most expensive food group recommendation to meet in January 2024, accounting for 38 per cent of the total CoHD to provide 13 per cent of the total calories.

    It said fruits and vegetables were the most expensive food groups in terms of price per calorie.

    “They accounted for 12 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively, of the total CoHD while providing only seven per cent and five per cent of total calories in the Healthy Diet Basket.

    “Legumes, nuts and seeds were the least-expensive food group on average, at six per cent of the total cost.”

    The report said in recent months, the CoHD had risen faster than general inflation and food inflation.

    “However, the CoHD and the food Consumer Price Index (CPI) are not directly comparable.

    “The CoHD includes fewer items and is measured in Naira per day, while the food CPI is a weighted index,” the report said.

    The CoHD report was unveiled on January 31, 2024, in Abuja.

    The report was produced by the NBS in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Federal Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning; Health and Social Welfare; and Agriculture and Food Security.

    It was technically supported by the Food Prices for Nutrition project, led by the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, U.S.

  • BREAKING: EFCC intercepts 21 truck load of food items being diverted to neighbouring countries

    BREAKING: EFCC intercepts 21 truck load of food items being diverted to neighbouring countries

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arrested 21 trucks loaded with food and other non-food items being diverted out of the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 21 truck loads being diverted to N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central African Republic and Cameroon were intercepted by operatives of the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the EFCC.

    Amid food shortages in the country, it was gathered that the trucks were intercepted in a sting operation at major exit routes along Kalabiri/Gamboru Ngala and Bama roads in Borno State.

    Investigation showed that the food items were cleverly concealed in the trucks, and according to the EFCC, this would have gone undetected, if not for the eagle-eyed vigilance of operatives of the Commission.

    Checks showed that the waybills covering the goods carried by the trucks indicated their destinations as N’djamena, Chad Republic, Central Africa Republic and Cameroon respectively.

    “The arrest of the trucks is expected to stem the tide of food insecurity occasioned by unscrupulous antics of smugglers across the country.

    “Suspects arrested with the trucks are being profiled and would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” the EFCC said.

  • We did not ban movements of food items to other states – Bago clarifies

    We did not ban movements of food items to other states – Bago clarifies

    Gov. Umar Bago of Niger State has clarified misconceptions regarding the state’s stance on the mass purchase of food items from the state to other states in the country.

    The governor said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

    Bago said he only stopped bulk purchases of food from local markets to neighbouring countries, adding that food items purchased in the state markets were not stopped from being taken to other states.

    He said the decision was to regulate the level of sales and ensure people were not exploited by smugglers.

    “We have markets in the local government headquarters; we have local markets in the bushes; now these aggregators, saboteurs, and even smugglers go to these villages.

    “For a farmer to give you a bag of paddy, it may take him two to three days because it’s manual. Imagine arresting two hundred trucks of paddy crossing the Benin Republic from Niger State.

    “You can imagine what it does to the market. Our factories here are starved; people take our paddies to the Benin Republic, mill it, bring it back, and exploit our people.”

    He highlighted the challenges faced by local farmers, including exploitation by middlemen and smugglers who divert agricultural produce to international markets.

    Bago stressed the importance of protecting local industries and ensuring fair market prices for farmers.

    “So, what we did was say, let’s control the level of sales. We know how much you need as a farmer; you don’t need to sell everything overnight.

    “Why is somebody luring you with excess cash, not minding the price?” he queried.

    He further emphasized the detrimental effects of unchecked food exportation on the local economy, adding that Niger State’s factories were suffering due to the exploitation of agricultural resources.

    “A bag that we sell for N40,000, somebody is giving you N100,000; obviously, you know there’s a problem, so the ban is addressing the food inflation in the state.

    He said his effort was yielding results, and it was necessary to intensify as a country while restating his commitment to support local farmers and ensure food security within the country.

    The governor said there was a need for collaborative efforts to address challenges in the agricultural sector and promote sustainable development.

    The governor, while responding to the reaction of the citizens to economic hardship, stopped the bulk purchase of food from local markets.

    However, some reports claimed that Bago banned the sale and purchase of foods in bulk from Niger State to other Nigerian states.

  • Hardship: Church opens bakery to support members with ‘daily bread’

    Hardship: Church opens bakery to support members with ‘daily bread’

    The Shepherd House Assembly International has launched its Shepherd’s Sure Bread to assist the indigents in the Church and other communities.

    The facility was launched at the Church premises in Abuja on Sunday.

    Speaking at the event, the Project Director, Rev. Jackie Talena, said that the aim was to help the church generate resources to provide welfare for its members and other less privileged people in the society.

    The director said that the project was part of the church’s vision of `reaching the unreached in the society’ and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    “Though this is a business venture, the proceeds of the bread will be used to actualise the vision of the ministry.

    “This is through welfare and support for the less privileged and by generating resources to organise our outreaches, crusades and programmes in the church,” she said.

    Talena, who is also the wife of the senior pastor of the church, said that the business would be used as a platform to train members in the skill of baking and also in building their business skills.

    She added that the skills would also empower them to be financially stable, especially with the rising cost of living in the country.

    She thanked Rev Joshua Talena, the Senior Pastor of the church, for the quality investment and other sacrifices to ensure the success of establishing the bakery.

    Talena urged the church members and other residents of Abuja to patronise the bread.

    On her part, the Coordinator for the bakery, Mrs Akon Etuk, said that it successfully passed through all the due process and requirements of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    “A certificate of listing has been granted in that regard. We are positioned to ensure the standard, the processes, hygiene and quality of this brand is maintained at all times.

    “We will always consider our consumers first in our practices and also offer the best prices possible,” she said.

    She urged the government to assist small-scale businesses such as the church’s bread bakery to enable them survive.

    “The brand we are introducing to Nigerians today is a wholesome pack of goodness, health and vitality,” she said.

  • Presidency says efforts on to ramp up food supply

    Presidency says efforts on to ramp up food supply

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food items to support the vulnerable populations across the country.

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    He said the grains were bagged in seven locations for onward distributions to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The presidential aide said that after the bagging,  the distribution would commence immediately.

    Onanuga said that the  first batch would be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.”

    The Federal Government is also ramping up food production by boosting Dry Season Farming under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project .

    ”The First Phase of the Dry Season Farming was launched in November, 2023. It focuses on the cultivation of wheat across 15 wheat-producing states, covering 118,657 hectares and involving 107,429 farmers.

    “The fields are green now and harvest will commence in a matter of weeks. There are fantastic reports of growth of wheat from Jigawa State, which is now targeting harvest from about 50,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares more than initially allotted under the programme.”

    He said that the Phase two  of the Dry Season Farming for rice, maize and cassava would commence soon across all 36 states and the FCT.

    “For rice, the target is 250,000 hectares involving 500,000 farmers with the expected output of one million metric tons of paddy rice.

    “For maize, we are cultivating 55,000 hectares with 110,000 farmers thereby adding 165,000 metric tons to national maize production.

    ”For cassava, we are doing 35,000 hectares with 70,000 farmers to produce 525,000 metric tons of cassava.

    “The NAGS-AP Project offers a 50 per cent  subsidy.

    ”However, the Federal Government is providing additional support for Phase two, which will bring aggregate subsidy to about 93 per cent to farmers cultivating the crops.”

    Onanuga said that state governors are also showing strong support to further enhance the subsidy.

    He added that solar-powered water pumps for irrigation are being deployed to aid the upcoming phase of the programme.

  • President Tinubu meets governors on food, security

    President Tinubu meets governors on food, security

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is meeting with state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting is attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

    The meeting, which is not unconnected with the food situation and security in the country, has more than 27 governors and the deputy governor of Bauchi in attendance.

    The Federal Government had started releasing tonnes of assorted grains to the market as part of efforts to make food available, affordable and accessible across the country.

    Similarly, measures has been taken to arrest the rising criminal activities through synergy among the armed forces and other paramilitary organisations.

    President Tinubu is expected to leave for the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia immediately after the meeting with the governors.

    African leaders will meet in Addis Ababa for the annual summit to be used to tackle the many challenges facing the continent and decide on how best to bolster the AU’s intervention in its various crises.

  • Nigeria grapples with growing food insufficiency

    Nigeria grapples with growing food insufficiency

    The Federal Government has disclosed that no fewer than 88.5 million Nigerians were faced with insufficient food consumption while the figure was projected to increase by six million in December.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (SSAP) disclosed at the National policy dialogue in Abuja.

    The policy dialogue is tagged “Deepening Partnership for Scaling-Up of Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) for Smallholder Farmers in Nigeria”.

    It was organised by the Federal Government, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

    Uzoma, who also disclosed at the event, that there is an alarming surge of over 80 per cent in food importation between 2019 and 2023, affirmed the federal government was committed to reversing the trend.

    The senior special assistant identified decline in agricultural capacity as a major contributor as the country was being forced to rely heavily on food imports.

    He said the country had the highest rate of stunted children globally, adding that 70 per cent of the population lived below poverty line and food inflation stood at 31.52 per cent in October.

    “This escalating dependence on external sources further intensifies the challenges within the domestic food landscape all of which have resulted in the declaration of state of emergency in food security by Mr President.

    “The IFAD-financed programme such as Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) and Livelihood Improvement and Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), aim to enhance incomes and food security through sustainable practices and integration of ICT4D.

    “These programmes involve tool such as the Mini-weather Station (Nimet) and Agriculture Market Information System (AIMS) to benefit farmers.

    “However, challenges in data access, gender equality, infrastructure and technical support still exist,” he said.

    He identified sustained efforts at digital literacy and collaboration by agencies and private sector as critical in ensuring greater technology adoption by smallholder farmers.

    Speaking at the event on Thursday, Uzoma said such efforts could translate to improved productivity, extensive technical upscaling, promote best practices, increased trade competitiveness and market access.

    The presidential aide said it was essential to apply a twin approach of developing critical technology enabling infrastructure in partnership with the universal service provision fund and mobile network operators while driving low technology solution as USSD and WhatsApp to increase accessibility.

    “Increased collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the NITDA is necessary to implement the National Digital Agriculture Strategy to further leverage technology for advancement of the agricultural sector.

    “These aligned with the mandate of my office under the leadership of the vice president which encompasses a multifaceted approach rooted in technology and innovation to ensure transformative change in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

    “This includes empowering one million women, youths and minorities to achieve food and nutritional sovereignty, ensuring food security and heightened agricultural productive.

    “It is also to achieve a 22 billion dollars import substitution of high-value crops like wheat, implement sustainable agricultural practices to promote environmental conservation and mitigate climate change.

    “Moreover, the mandate seeks to generate two million direct and six million indirect jobs with a focus on youth and women while simultaneously addressing and minimising farmer/herder crises,” he said.

    Mrs Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director, said the dialogue was aimed at strengthening partnership for enhanced access of smallholder farmers to digital solutions.

    According to her, the solutions will enhance their livelihoods, contribution to food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, economy growth and job creation.

  • How food prices continue to rise in Nigeria

    How food prices continue to rise in Nigeria

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says prices of beef, rice, beans, tomato, and other food items increased in October.

    It said this in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for October 2023 released in Abuja on Friday.

    The report said that the average price of 1kg of boneless beef increased by 30.80 per cent from N2,266.24 recorded in October 2022 to N2,948.03 in October 2023.

    On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of boneless beef increased by 4.65 per cent in October from N2,816.91 in September 2023,’’ the report said.

    It said that the average price of 1kg of local rice increased by 68.10 per cent on a year-on-year basis, from N487.47 in October 2022 to N819.42 in October 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, 1kg of local rice increased by 8.24 per cent from the N757.06 recorded in September 2023.*

    The report said that the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 39.90 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N564.69 in October 2022 to N790.01 in October 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 10.19 per cent from the N716.97 recorded in September 2023. ”

    The NBS said the average price of 1kg of Tomato increased by 48.73 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N454.46 recorded in October 2022 to N675.91 in October 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the price increased by 19.48 per cent from the N565.69 recorded in September 2023. ”

    It said the average price of 1kg of white Gari white increased by 63.68 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N317.90 in October 2022 to N520.35 in October 2023.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the price of this item increased by 11.21 per cent from N467.89 recorded in September 2023. ”

    On state profile analysis, the report showed that the highest average price of 1kg of boneless beef was recorded in Anambra at N3,831.48, and the lowest price was recorded in Kogi at N2,362.50.

    It said that Edo recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N1,044.17, while the lowest was reported in Zamfara at N660.79.

    The NBS said that the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans was recorded in Imo at N1,095.84, while Taraba recorded the lowest price at N550.59.

    It said the highest average price of 1kg of Tomato was recorded in Bayelsa at N1,344.13, while the lowest price was recorded in Kwara at N341.95.

    The report said the highest average price of 1kg of white Gari was recorded in Delta at N759.29, while the lowest price was recorded in Kogi at N390.81.

    Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of boneless beef was highest in the South-East at N3,582.88, followed by the South-South at N3,212.32.

    ” The lowest price was recorded in the North-East at N 2,656.27.”

    The South-South and South-East recorded the highest average price of 1kg of local rice at N944.69 and N907.50, respectively, while the lowest price was in the North-East at N718.51.

    The report said that the South-East recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans at N1,023.34, followed by the South-South at N870.09, while the North-West recorded the lowest price at N615.07.

    It said the South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of Tomato at N1,199.77, followed by the South-East at N908.64.

    “The North-East recorded the lowest price of 1kg of Tomato at N382.92, ” the NBS said.

  • Subsidy: Nigerians face difficulty in accessing food items – Expert

    Subsidy: Nigerians face difficulty in accessing food items – Expert

    Prof. Abdulazeez Lawal of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management of University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has submitted that removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the exchange rate has made many Nigerians face difficulty accessing food items.

    Lawal stated this in his paper presentation in Ilorin at the 244th Inaugural Lecture of University entitled: “Making Ends Meet With Food Security”.

    He quoted the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics as revealing that the consumer price index rose from 22.22 per cent to 24.41 percent between April and May 2023.

    “Food inflation rate rose from 24.61 percent in April to 24.82 per cent in May 2023. When compared to, on a year-on-year basis, this was 5.33 per cent point higher than 19.5 per cent recorded in May, 2022,” he said.

    The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Agriculture of  Unilorin, observed that an estimated 17 million people were at risk of food insecurity in October 2022.

    He stated that unless urgent actions are taken to address the continuing conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices, Nigeria would remain among the highest level countries facing acute food insecurity.

    Lawal postulated that one of the vital components of the food system globally is agriculture and it is also the most important economic sector with a high level socio-economic relevance for many countries.

    This, he said, is with respect to employment generation, nutrition and rural development.

    “In view of this, agriculture appears to be the only realistic driver of economic and social development in many countries in the near future.

    “Small holder farmers produce more than 80 per cent of the world food production. Ironically, across all countries, people living in rural areas are most exposed to food insecurity owing to limited access to food and financial resources,” he said.

    The expert observed that with a population of more than 200 million people, about 80 per cent of Nigerians depend on small scale agriculture for their food need.

    He advised on the need to improve agricultural production and rural livelihood activities necessary to boost food supplies and increase income of farming households.

    Lawal also advised government at all tiers for improved funding and effective implementation of food security programmes.

    “Government should design policy strategy that would encourage technology transfer as well as ensure the use of modern farming techniques by smallholder farmers,” he said.

    The agriculturist also urged the government to ensure security of lives and properties through development and peace building policies in handling issues in conflict affected areas