The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has voiced his concerns about the escalating cost of living and the scarcity of food.
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has voiced his concerns about the escalating cost of living and the scarcity of food.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ndume highlighted the federal government’s failure to tackle these pressing issues, noting that even some ministers are unable to meet with President Bola Tinubu to discuss the situation.
“The major problem with this government is that its doors are closed, to the extent that even some ministers cannot see the President, not to mention members of the National Assembly, who do not have the opportunity to meet with him and discuss the issues affecting their constituencies,” he stated.
Ndume made these remarks shortly after he and Senator Sunday Steve Karimi sponsored a motion aimed at addressing the country’s food crisis. The Senators referenced a warning from the World Food Programme that 82 million Nigerians might face food insecurity in the next five years.
The senator emphasized that the purpose of the motion was to draw the government’s attention to the critical food crisis impacting many Nigerians. He warned that without urgent government intervention, the country could face famine and 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. We want the President to intervene in the issue of high cost of living and food scarcity,” he urged.
Ndume pointed to Katsina State as an example, where children are already suffering from malnutrition due to the lack of food. He also mentioned similar situations in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying from hunger.
“We have seen how it happened in Niger Republic and South Sudan, where children are dying due to hunger, and we are starting to see it in Nigeria,” he added.
He called on the government to take immediate action to address the food crisis, including consulting with experts and other stakeholders to find a solution. Ndume expressed disappointment that the government had not yet taken concrete steps to address the issue, despite previous promises.
“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.
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,” he concluded.
