A lecturer of economics at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Dr. Felix Macline warns that food inflation would persist unless the Federal Government addresses security challenges in the country. Dr. Felix Mc. explained that many farmers in rural area particularly the women has abandoned their farm due to fear of being raped and kidnapoed. The lecturer of economics at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education told our reporters that Nigeria is currently dealing with situations where the demand for food exceeds the supply.
Dr. Felix Macline stressed that the insecurity situation has not been addressed. He said because of insecurity, even production of seasonal crops has drastically fall, and as few manages to go to the the farm, demand will exceed supply and that will bring about increase in prices of goods.
On his part, another lecturer of economics at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Dr. Edward Wasuru attributed the current food insecurity to the high cost of transportation. He argued that the move by the federal government to grant wavers on some important food items would not be effective if the prices of petrol remains high. Dr. Edward Wasuru further explained that PMS is a major macro economic determinant of eventually all policy issues in the country. He said if the price of PMS remains high, invariably the cost of transporting these commodities from one location to the other will still affect the price at which the final consumer will need to pick them from the shop because adequate demand will be reduced.
He however urge the federal government to look at how to break the monopoly in the oil industry to enable the supply of fuel and diesel at an affordable cost. Stating that with this, the experienced food inflation will become a thing of the past. Recall that within the week, the pump price of fuel has gradually increased by N50.00 and transporters responded immediately and the Nigerians are not comfortable with such abnormal increase as it affects the prices of goods especially consumer goods.
Other people interviewed expressed fear that if such persists, many people will go without food. They stressed that the governments at all levels should take proactive measure on agriculture, while the Federal Government should as a matter of urgency address the issue of hike in petrol pump price, and know that Nigerians are dying in numbers as a result of starvation.They urge the Presidency to look into some policies and reverse such since insecurity increases every day.
