The Struggle To Eat: How Nigerians Are Spending Almost All Their Income On Food
Many Nigerians are on the edge, forced to allocate the majority of their income to food and resorting to borrowing to cover other essential needs. In the eyes of many, priorities like clothing, healthcare, and shelter have taken a backseat as families grapple with the daily challenge of putting food on the table.
A recent survey by SBM Intelligence, spanning 1,745 respondents across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, revealed that 47 percent have cut back on expenses, with 27 percent relying on loans to bridge income gaps.
Despite an average monthly income of ₦108,097, a staggering ₦105,318 is spent on food, devouring 97.4 percent of their earnings. In the insecure Northeast and Northwest, along with the oil-rich South-south, respondents go beyond their income, spending over 100 percent on food alone.
There’s a glimmer of relief in the Southeast, where residents spend 80 percent of their income on food. Meanwhile, those in the Southwest and Northcentral report spending 97 percent and 89 percent, respectively, on this basic necessity.
Nigeria grapples with economic hardships worsened by conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, hindering agricultural activities. Due to insecurity, farmers face challenges cultivating their farmlands, and sometimes farm produce is not harvested.
In April 2023, in a special report, Neusroom reported how the herdsmen-farmers clash is impoverishing Benue farmers. Regarded as the food basket of the nation, Benue State has witnessed increased farmers-herders clashes since 2015. After the killing of over 40 people by suspected herdsmen between April 3 and April 7, 2023, in Umogidi and Igbobi communities, Otukpo and Apa LGA of Benue State, residents told Neusroom that farmers are scared of returning to the farm.
Yoosu Soonen, President of the National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS), said, “People are scared to go to the farm. I can tell you that commercial farming in the state has reduced drastically.”
The rising cost of food is also caused by the increase in transportation costs, a surge triggered by the removal of the fuel subsidy under President Bola Tinubu’s government. Also, the government’s move to unify the exchange rate has depreciated the naira at the official market, leading to soaring prices of imported goods. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports a food inflation rate of 30.64 percent, pushing many Nigerians below the poverty line of $1.9 per day.
Financial analyst Emmanuel Adepelumi suggests a solution: subsidising food production. He emphasises the need to support farmers, subsidise fertilizers, and provide mechanised farming tools to make production more affordable.
“As the subsidy on fuel has been removed, the government should subsidise food production. When farmers can produce more affordably, food prices will ultimately decrease,” he says.
As the festive season approaches, concerns rise about further spikes in food prices, intensifying the strain on the living standards of Nigerians. The struggle to put food on the table has become a human story of resilience, survival, and the hope for a better tomorrow.
