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The Yoruba have a saying: The elder who refuses to shout at the start of a misdemeanour, will only have themselves to blame when the anticipated result becomes glaring.
In his so-called “Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,” the Nigerian President, Mr Bola Tinubu allocated 1.7 per cent or N826.5 billion to agriculture. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) predicted that 33 million people could face a severe food crisis in the country in 2025, a sharp increase from the 25 million currently food insecure.
The estimate of the WFP should not only have alarmed a serious government, but it should also have been looking for ways to turn back the hands of time. And we did have a good time as far as agriculture was concerned in those good old days. With healthy competition among the regions, the regions were actually giving the federal government money. Then, it was almost unbearable for someone to be without food.
Now, the reverse is the case. No state can exist without a monthly Zakat from the federal government.
Was it not last December, that people died in various parts of the country because of Christmas giveaways?
Out of the N54.2 trillion ($36.4 billion) budget, defence and security will get N4.9 trillion, infrastructure will receive N4.06 trillion, while health and education will get N2.48 trillion and N3.52 trillion respectively.
The government should critically examine the budget again and review the amount allocated to agriculture.
Food is the best form of defence for a nation. Every other thing is secondary!
Ps: I understand the government is going to either magically or spiritually bring the inflation rate from 34.84 per cent (December) to 15 per cent. That would be great except that inflation rates are not brought down magically or spiritually but by working for it. There is no voodoo economics about that.
Oo d’emu l’ogbe
Oo t’oguro l’ofa
O gbenu si’di ope
Ofe lo nro na?
