ZCZC
BFF-34
COVID-19-FOOD SECURITY-NIGERIA
COVID-19 outbreak threatens food security in parts of Nigeria
LAGOS, Sept 8, 2020 (BSS/XINHUA) – The outbreak of COVID-19 has increased
food insecurity in four major states of Nigeria, a report has shown.
The National Bureau of Statistics in its latest report on the impact of
COVID-19 said food insecurity appears to be prevalent across the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) and the states of Kano, Lagos and Rivers.
In Rivers and the FCT, in particular, 79 percent and 72 percent of
households respectively reported having to skip meals since the start of the
pandemic.
“Households in all four states are drawing down their savings and
borrowing money to cover their living expenses, which may leave them more
economically vulnerable and reduce their investments in human capital in the
future,” the NBS report said.
The report, which contains results from the labor force survey of the
second quarter in 2020 , added that the share of people engaged in economic
activities in the four states was lower between June and July 2020 than that
before the COVID-19 crisis. In the FCT, the share of people working was down
by around 14 percentage points.
Meanwhile, the country’s apex bank has approved four Nigerian firms to
import 262,000 tons of maize as food shortage looms.
The firms comprise Crown Flour Mills Limited, Premier Feeds Company
Limited, Chi Farms Limited, and Wacot Limited.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1533 hrs