The Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa, a leading non-profit think tank that conducts independent researches on Africa’s economic development trends, has charged state governments in Nigeria to implement community policing in order to improve security around farmlands and by implication, reverse the growing food insecurity concerns in the country.
Researchers at the non-profit organisation gave this charge to the sub-national governments in the just published Nigeria Economic Update Issue No 30 sourced on Tuesday by our correspondent.
The CSEA’s researchers noted that latest report for Selected Food Prices Watch of June 2021 by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), food prices had increased across Nigeria.
For instance, the experts recalled that the Bureau’s report indicated that the” average price of one dozen of eggs increased year-on-year by 17.69 percent and month-on-month by 2.76 percent from N541.53 to N556.47 between May and June.
According to the research organization, the rising prices were attributed to the heightened insecurity and attacks on farmers.
The Centre cautioned: “Worse still, the rise in food prices could continue particularly taking into consideration the increase in transport fares. This would have dire consequences on the 17 million children across the country that are undernourished leading to Nigeria worsening its position as having the highest level of malnourishment in Africa and the second-highest globally.”
On how to deal with the insecurity concerns, the CSEA researchers advised that the “sub-national governments should implement community policing in order to improve security around farmlands.
“Furthermore, improving social protection schemes such as cash transfers and food distribution can act as a stop gap for the rising food insecurity among the vulnerable population”, the CSEA advocated.
