Senate Urges Nigerian Government To Introduce Food Vouchers To Address Growing Hunger

Senate Urges Nigerian Government to Introduce Food Vouchers to Address Growing Hunger

Expressing deep concern over the widespread hunger prevalent in the nation, the Senate has advocated for the implementation of a food stamps program by the Federal Government as a temporary measure to alleviate the impact of food insecurity…..READ ALSO

This call comes alongside a recommendation for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to collaborate with development partners and other pertinent stakeholders, notably the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, which previously initiated the Temporary Food Assistance Programme (TEFAP) a few years back.

The Senate emphasized the necessity of introducing this program “with a view to working out practicable templates and implementable modalities for the actualization of the programme.”

These resolutions were reached following a motion sponsored by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South), co-sponsored by Senator Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central), and supported by a majority of senators during the plenary session.

Food stamps, a supplementary nutrition assistance program, aim to provide food-purchasing aid for individuals with low or no income to ensure they maintain adequate nutrition and health.

Senator Ndume, in his presentation, highlighted the findings of the October 2023 Cadre Harmonizé Analysis on Food Insecurity, projecting that Nigeria would witness approximately 26.5 million people grappling with severe food insecurity in 2024.

He attributed this projection to various factors including ongoing conflicts nationwide, the impacts of climate change, escalating inflation, and the rising costs of essential commodities due to the depreciation of the Naira in the foreign exchange market.

Ndume underscored the necessity of immediate food support across the country, stressing that public assistance programs such as food stamps are crucial alongside calls for wage increases and employment support.

In their contributions, senators emphasized the importance of ensuring the effective and equitable distribution of food stamps to those in need. They highlighted the urgency of implementing the program without delay and emphasized the importance of establishing robust structures for its distribution.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, presiding over the plenary, echoed the sentiments of the Senate, affirming that the implementation of such a program would alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to addressing issues that benefit all citizens.