Russia/Ukraine War: Nigeria must act fast to avoid food crisis – NGO

By Nimake Earland
Oxfam Nigeria, a non-governmental organization has lamented that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, will cause a crippling global food crisis if nothing is done to avert the situation and warning that if something is not done to abate the situation, it may cause a devastating global food crisis.

A press release by Oxfam International Country Director in Nigeria, Dr., Vincent Ahonsi and signed by Rita Abiodun, it states that governments must support the development of sustainable, resilient, and local food systems, based on small-scale production and family farming that would form the very foundation of people’s food security as the current crisis underscores the urgency and importance of this.

The statement said that in the short-term, donor governments must bridge the gap between what people can pay and higher prices, and deliver much-needed aid to people facing severe hunger who will be even more impacted by the rise in food prices.

“Nigeria needs a food system that works for everybody. This means a food system that can stand against shocks such as the climate crisis and rapid food inflation on international food markets, and does not contribute to environmental destruction”

“Nigeria government needs to provide the public funding necessary to create fair, gender-just, and sustainable food systems, particularly focusing on agroecological production which is inherently less dependent on imports of feed and agricultural inputs, and more resilient to climate change impacts.

“There is an urgent need for the government to implement universal and adequate social protection measures to support the people, ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable people have social protection.

“Action should include unconditional cash or food transfer scheme which are widely rather than narrowly targeted, regular and predictable, and automatically triggered by price rises,” the statement read in part.

The release further contained that the crisis in Ukraine has caused food prices to skyrocket globally in the last few weeks with some forecasts estimating up to a 20 percent increase. This is adding pressure to the already devastating hunger crises across the world and causing fears of food shortages.

Plateau 2023: Lawmaker counsel politicians on sportsmanship

“This is because Ukraine and Russia are important players on the global food export market, Russia is the top wheat exporter with a share of almost 16 percent of the global market, while Ukraine is the third-largest exporter of wheat at almost 10 percent of the global market.

“Importantly, for a number of countries with high levels of hunger, Ukraine and Russia have an outsized impact, as they import a significant share of their wheat from Ukraine or Russia.

“The most important problem, however, is affordable access to food, not its availability as Many people in low-income countries (including Nigeria) cannot afford the prices of goods like bread which, in many countries, is made from imported wheat.

“The reason according to Oxfam is that Supply chain disruptions and climate-driven disasters, like drought, coupled with conflict, have driven prices up when wages have been unable to keep pace.