Coronavirus: Rivers, FCT facing food insecurity - NBS report

A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed some states in Nigeria that are facing food insecurity as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

The Nation reports that the NBS states that food insecurity is prevalent in Rivers state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The report titled The Impact of COVID-19 in Kano, Lagos, Rivers, and FCT Abuja: Results from the Second Quarter 2020 Labor Force Survey World Bank Poverty Team – August 2020, states that 79 per cent and 72 per cent of households in Rivers and the FCT respectively have been skipping their meals.

The report also indicates that households in the four states, Rivers, FCT, Lagos and Kano, are drawing down their savings and borrowing to cover their living expenses, which may leave them more economically vulnerable and reduce their investments in human capital in the future.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Nigerian farmers and stakeholders in the agro-sector warned that the country was in danger of food shortage as the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard on farmers and the agricultural sector.

This was contained in a statement made available on Monday, May 4 and jointly issued by Voices of Food Security, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, the Association of Small-Scale Agro-Producers in Nigeria, Ogbonge Women Farmers’ Association, Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria and Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria.