Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says rising food, fuel and transportation costs are pushing nutritious meals beyond the reach of many Nigerian families.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, his
senior special assistant on public communication, Atiku, presidential candidate
of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), described Nigeria’s worsening child
malnutrition figures as one of the most troubling manifestations of the
cost-of-living crisis.
In its consumer price index (CPI) report on Wednesday, the
National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put food inflation at 19.57 percent.
‘A CHILD ONLY KNOWS WHETHER THERE IS FOOD ON THE TABLE’
Atiku cited figures presented by nutrition experts
indicating that 41.1 percent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, while
19.2 percent are severely stunted.
He said the prevalence of stunting rises to 58.2 percent in
the north-west, while nearly two million children are reported to be suffering
from severe acute malnutrition, with only about two in 10 receiving treatment.
“This is the most heartbreaking face of the cost-of-living
crisis. Behind every statistic is a Nigerian mother struggling to decide what
her children can eat, how much they can eat and how often they can eat,” he
said.
Atiku said children do not understand inflation figures but
feel the effects of rising living costs through the availability and quality of
food at home.
“A child does not understand inflation figures. A child only
knows whether there is food on the table,” he said.
He said inadequate access to nutritious food could have
lasting consequences for children’s physical development.
“When nutritious food moves beyond the reach of millions of
families, the consequences eventually appear in the bodies of our children,” he
said.
“Today, the country is being confronted with figures that
should shock the conscience of every leader.”
The former vice-president said the malnutrition figures
should be considered alongside the pressure that food, transportation and
energy costs are placing on household budgets.
According to him, the NBS currently puts food inflation at
19.57 percent, while households continue to contend with high prices
accumulated over recent years.
‘WHEN FUEL BECOMES EXPENSIVE, COST ARRIVES AT DINNER TABLE’
Atiku said the link between energy costs and household
welfare informed his economic programme’s focus on affordability.
“When fuel becomes expensive, transporting tomatoes from the
farm becomes expensive,” he said.
“Taking rice to the market becomes expensive. Moving
children to school becomes expensive. Running the neighbourhood grinding
machine becomes expensive. Powering the small shop becomes expensive.
“And eventually, the additional cost arrives at the dinner
table. That is why I refuse to accept an economic philosophy in which
government simply watches prices rise and tells struggling citizens to endure,”
Atiku said.
‘CAN THE ORDINARY NIGERIAN AFFORD TO LIVE?’
Atiku said economic policy must be measured by its effect on
the ability of ordinary Nigerians to meet their basic needs.
“Economic policy must ultimately answer a very simple
question: Can the ordinary Nigerian afford to live?” he said.
He said the nutrition figures also showed the need to expand
treatment for severely malnourished children and strengthen maternal and child
nutrition programmes.
Atiku urged that nutrition budgets should reach communities
where the needs are greatest.
“We cannot build a strong country on the bodies of hungry
children. We cannot celebrate economic statistics while mothers are cutting
meals and children are denied the nutrition they require to grow,” he stated.
He said his objective was to lower energy, transportation
and production costs, strengthen Nigerian production, restore purchasing power
and give families more financial room.
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