Food Inflation Rises to 40.8% as Nigerians Braze Up for August Protest

Food inflation in Nigeria has once again breached new heights, surging to a crushing 40.87% in June 2024, an alarming development that has sent ripples of concern through the nation. As the people reel from the effects of a sharply escalating cost of living, Nigerians are readying themselves for an August protest in a show of unity against the exacerbating economic instability.

 

This June 2024 figure, according to National Bureau of Statistics represents a substantial jump from June 2023’s recorded rate of 25.25%, painting a bleak portrait of Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to combat food inflation.

The impact of food inflation is felt unevenly across Nigeria’s diverse states, according to the data. Edo, Kogi, and Cross River states are at the epicenter of this crisis, with food inflation reaching alarming highs of 47.34%, 46.37%, and 45.28% respectively, figures that underscore the severe economic strain on these communities. In contrast, states such as Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Adamawa recorded relatively less extreme increases in food inflation at 34.31%, 34.78%, and 35.96% respectively.

While the Year-on-Year food inflation rates paint a sobering picture, the Month-on-Month figures offer a nuanced perspective. Yobe, Adamawa, and Taraba states bear the brunt of the most significant food inflation spikes on a Month-on-Month basis, with increases of 4.75%, 4.74%, and 4.12% respectively. In contrast, Nasarawa, Kano, and Lagos states experience the most subdued rise in food inflation in June 2024, with rates of 0.14%, 0.96%, and 1.25% respectively.

As food prices skyrocket and essentials become increasingly out of reach for many Nigerians, the country finds itself grappling with mounting complaints of hunger and scarcity. In the face of such widespread hardship, many are finding themselves forced to make painful sacrifices, stretching their limited resources to the breaking point.

A video clip featuring two Nigerian citizens denouncing the devastatingly high prices of basic food items and the perceived ineptitude of the country’s political leadership has gone viral, igniting a widespread public outcry.

These impassioned Nigerians, their voices laced with despair and frustration, spoke bluntly about the struggles of everyday Nigerians and the stark inequality of a nation where many go hungry.

The viral video exposes the anguish and outrage of two Nigerian men who bemoan the staggering cost of everyday food items. The men, clearly exasperated, express their disbelief at having paid an astronomical N300 for a single wrap of “Eba” and an eye-watering N4,000 for a bucket of “Garri”.

The palpable frustration of these two men, and their inability to afford even the most fundamental of foodstuffs, lays bare the harsh economic realities that have become a part of everyday life for millions of Nigerians. The soaring costs of food items, which are a staple of Nigerian households, are symbolic of the chronic socioeconomic inequality that pervades the country, where the rich seem to get richer and the poor, poorer.

The two men, their frustration boiling over, not only decried the soaring food prices but also lambasted the newly elected President Bola Tinubu, whom they accused of empty promises. They claim that Tinubu, in his campaign for office, had pledged to improve living conditions for the Nigerian people, but that the harsh economic realities on the ground are testament to his failure to deliver on these promises.

“Tinubu promised us that if he comes, things will change, but you have not done anything”.

The men used local dialects and vivid language to emphasise the severity of the situation. “If they like dogs, fowl, eggs, they say, bawe na den si so na 300 na ya own o.

“See this eba, 300. 300 na ya own, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” this statement highlights the chasm between political rhetoric and the everyday struggles of the Nigerian people, casting doubt on the efficacy of Tinubu’s presidency in improving their quality of life.

The pleas of the two men reached a stage that they issued a rallying cry for Nigerians to join them in taking to the streets. In a show of defiant solidarity, they announced plans to stage a protest in August.

“We’re going to run this protest. This country, we must do well. You must do well. This government, we’re going to end up,” one of them added.

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