Fuel Subsidy Removal and Hunger: Imperative of Food Banking Initiative - Anietie Umoren, No Hunger Food Bank Senior Research Fellow.

The number of people suffering from chronic hunger globally is over 657 million. According to the World Food Programme HungerMap, chronic hunger is when people cannot meet food consumption requirements in the long term (also known as undernourishment). According to figures tracked by HungerMap Live, 393 million people live in 36 countries, while 264 million people are projected to come from 52 countries worldwide. Out of these numbers, the twelve most affected countries are Somalia, Niger, Mali, Haiti, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sierra Leone, Yemen, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo in the order of severity and account for 25% of the global hungry people.

Although Nigeria is moderately risky and stable within the West African sub-region, it is considered a moderately high risky situation globally. Similarly, considering Nigeria's agricultural potential in terms of vast arable lands with good weather conditions all year round, the country has no business with the inability to feed its population. However, it found itself in the current state as a result of a series of socio-political and socioeconomic factors such as violent conflict, climate change, poor and uncoordinated policies, among others which have affected its efforts to harness the enormous agricultural potential across the country to achieve food security and zero hunger. Violent conflicts such as banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, herder-farmers' crisis, and Boko haram insurgence, for instance, have affected agricultural activities and food production in the food production region of the north and driven farmers out of their farms to internally displaced population (IDP) camps where they live on a daily handout from government and other humanitarian bodies for sustenance. Consequently, this population group is susceptible to various health and nutritional crises with attendant socioeconomic effects on the government and society.

The fuel subsidy removal policy of the new government in Nigeria has no doubt pressured the purchasing power of the already burdened populace. The subsidy removal has impacted to a significant extent the logistical and energy cost, which are critical inputs in the food production value chain. This translates to high prices of goods and food across the country. Critically affected by a 17-year high food inflation which stands at 25.25% as of June 2023, up from 24.82% in May, according to the NBS National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the subsidy removal policy is expected to further drive inflation upward with an attendant effect on the citizen's livelihood and well-being. As a result, prices of stable foods will be out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians and drive many into poverty. In addition, it will further exacerbate hunger and the nutritional crisis of the underserved and vulnerable population.?Empirical evidence from World Food Program HungerMap shows that hunger incidence in Nigeria has increased by 0.2% since the announcement of the policy.

Hunger and food insufficiency are conditions where people or groups lack access to enough food to satisfy their fundamental dietary requirements. Numerous variables, including poverty, violence, natural catastrophes, climate change, and political unrest, can contribute to hunger. Contrarily, food insufficiency refers to poor diets that cause malnutrition because of limited diet availability, access to food, or both. A lack of food can have various detrimental effects, such as stunted growth, reduced immune systems, and a higher chance of illness and disease. Additionally, hunger can seriously impact a person's capacity to learn, work, and conduct everyday activities on an economic, social, and psychological level.

According to live data from World Food Programme HungerMap, 72.5 million Nigerians consume insufficient food, while acute and chronic malnutrition in children under 5 years stands at 6.8% and 36.8%, respectively.??A high prevalence of inadequate food consumption occurs in northern Nigeria, with Katsina state recording the highest (59.02%), translating to 4.6 million people, with 2.8 million of them (46.85%) suffering from food-based crisis). On the other hand, Anambra state in the south records the least in food insufficiency with 14.98%, while Edo records the least in food-based crisis with 14.16% on average.?

Apart from the rising food prices where prices of essential food items are beyond people's income, other effects of the current policy are reduced purchasing power and income inequality. These, put together, makes it more challenging for vulnerable populations to afford an adequate diet, leading to food insecurity and hunger. In addition, the macroeconomic policy decisions of floating exchange rates and /or currency devaluation have an enormous impact on the largely import-dependent economy. For instance, this can be seen in the high import cost of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, machinery, and food import. Nigeria relies on importation to account for the shortfall in food production from Europe, Asia, the United States, and South America. In 2022, food importation stood at 7.29%, mainly rice, wheat, fish, poultry, food services, and consumer-oriented foods. Therefore, a high exchange rate implies high import costs and high prices of staple food such as bread, rice, oat, wheat, etc., which many Nigerians rely on daily and need help to afford.

With 63 percent of Nigeria already in multidimensional poverty, there is a high tendency of widespread hunger and food insecurity, contributing to social unrest and political instability. Therefore, the government must do everything possible to avert food riots and protests due to people's frustration and desperation arising from the lack of affordable food. To ensure this does not happen, governments and policymakers must implement social safety nets, food subsidies, agricultural support, and monetary policies to control inflation and stabilize food prices. The government must think out of the box to ensure the effectiveness of these measures considering our country's specific economic and social context.

Food Banking Initiative and Hunger Alleviation

A food banking initiative, like the No Hunger Food Bank , is a community-based effort that seeks to tackle hunger and food insecurity by gathering extra food from a variety of producers, retailers, and individuals and distributing it to those in need either through a network of partner organizations or directly to people and families who are experiencing food insecurity. No Hunger Food Bank 's programmes and projects are essential for lowering food waste, decreasing hunger, and fostering food security.

The No Hunger Food Bank has been at the forefront of this initiative in Nigeria, providing free feeding to the vulnerable and underserved population, especially the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Nigeria and Abuja.

Benefits of a food banking initiative:

1. Food Collection and Distribution: No Hunger Food Bank remains a focal point for gathering food donations from diverse sources in FCT Abuja and its environs. These donations include non-perishable commodities, canned goods, packaged foods, and fresh produce. After being collected, the food is sorted and given to cooperating community organizations that assist needy individuals and families.
2. Reduction of Food Waste: No Hunger Food Bank 's efforts at reducing food waste contribute to environmental management, thereby saving excess food that would otherwise go to waste. As a result, the action helps promote sustainable behaviors and tackle hunger.
3. Reach and Impact: In collaboration with its network of partner organisations and based on its mission to implement its Temporary Food Assistance Programme (TEFAP), which is aimed at assisting Abuja, and Northern Nigerian families struggling with hunger, thousands of kilogrammes of food are widely distributed to rural and urban populations and other types of communities.
4. Supporting Vulnerable Populations: No Hunger Food Bank primarily focuses on helping vulnerable groups like low-income households, kids, the elderly, and people who are homeless. These populations are more prone to food insecurity and gain a lot from the food banks' access to various wholesome foods.
5. Collaboration with Donors and Volunteers: Initiatives for food banks often rely on volunteers who assist with food-collecting, sorting, and distribution. They also develop strong relationships with food providers, such as companies, farms, and people, who help the programme succeed.
6. Disaster Relief: Given its capacity to immediately mobilise resources to address the urgent needs of affected populations, No Hunger Food Bank is essential as the first respondent in delivering food aid during emergencies, natural disasters, and other crises.
7. Community Engagement and Advocacy: No Hunger Food Bank also vigorously advocates for legislative changes to address the underlying causes of hunger and promote community awareness of these issues.
8. Nutritional Education: Concerning nutrition education, No Hunger Food Bank provides programmes and materials to teach proper nutrition and healthy eating habits among internally displaced persons and vulnerable populations in Abuja.

Serving as a crucial pillar in the fight against hunger and food insecurity, No Hunger Food Bank offers essential short-term assistance, which should be accompanied by more comprehensive strategies and policies to tackle the root causes of food insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and systematic inequalities.

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References

·????????National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) (2023)

·????????HungerMap Live. World Food Program. https://hungermap.wfp.org/

·????????www.nohungerfoodbank.org

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