Nigeria continues to grapple with a severe hunger crisis as food inflation surged to 40.87% in June 2024, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. This marks an increase from the 40.66% recorded in May 2024 and a significant rise from the 25.25% recorded in June 2023.
The Year-on-Year food inflation was highest in Edo (47.34%), Kogi (46.37%), and Cross River (45.28%), while the slowest increases were seen in Nasarawa (34.31%), Bauchi (34.78%), and Adamawa (35.96%).
On a Month-on-Month basis, June 2024 saw the highest food inflation in Yobe (4.75%), Adamawa (4.74%), and Taraba (4.12%). Conversely, Nasarawa (0.14%), Kano (0.96%), and Lagos (1.25%) experienced the slowest monthly increases.
This alarming rise in food prices comes amidst widespread complaints of hunger and escalating food costs across the nation. In response, the Nigerian government has announced the removal of import duties on essential food items such as rice, maize, and cowpeas.
Additionally, a 150-day Duty-Free Import Window has been established, suspending duties, tariffs, and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities through land and sea borders.
Despite these measures, the government has struggled to curb the rising inflation, leading to increasing apprehension and uncertainty among the population.
