THE Nigerian Red Cross Society has launched fundraising to address the escalating hunger crisis affecting millions across the country.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society’s President, Oluyemisi Adeaga, at a fundraising gala held in Lagos State, announced the organisation’s goal to raise N2.5 billion to support its humanitarian initiatives, including hunger relief and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programmes.
The event, themed “Keeping Humanity Alive,” was part of the Red Cross Society’s efforts to alleviate the growing hunger crisis that has left millions of Nigerians battling food insecurity and malnutrition.
In his keynote address, Adeaga emphasised that hunger and disasters would not discriminate based on ethnicity, faith, gender, or nationality, urging all Nigerians to unite in tackling the crisis.
“We are gathered here not just for a fundraising dinner but for something far more meaningful. In our hearts, we know we have the power to change lives,” he stated.
According to him, about 32 million Nigerians face hunger and malnutrition. He said they were human beings facing an “unimaginable hunger crisis.”
“But there is hope, and that hope lies in the generosity of compassionate individuals like those gathered here today.”
The ICIR reported that the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the country’s headline inflation dropped further to 32.15 per cent in August for the second consecutive time, the inflation rate was 6.35 per cent points higher compared to 25.80 per cent rate recorded in August 2023.
While headline inflation dropped, the food inflation rate rose to 37.52 per cent, representing 8.18 per cent points higher compared to the 29.34 per cent rate recorded in August 2023.
According to the NBS, the rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of bread, maize, grains, guinea corn, yam, Irish potatoes, water yam, cassava tuber, palm oil, vegetable, and Ovaltine, milo, Lipton.
Snowballing food prices have further worsened malnutrition and hunger crises in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the Nigerian Red Cross event, the head of delegation for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Bhupinder Tomar, expressed concerns over the worsening food insecurity in Nigeria, which he said had been exacerbated by climate-induced disasters such as droughts and floods.
“This is a call to action,” Tomar stated, calling for a collective response to ensure no Nigerian goes hungry.
On her part, the chairperson of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross, Bola Kolawole, commended the event’s attendees for their commitment to supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
She emphasised Lagos State’s role as a financial hub and urged stakeholders to continue investing in efforts to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country.
The International Ambassador of the Swiss Red Cross, Absa Faty Kane, drew attention to the ripple effects of poverty, particularly on young Nigerians.
According to her, many young people risk perilous journeys in search of better lives abroad, adding that “we need to combine our efforts effectively and urgently to provide relief to communities affected by disasters and insecurity.”
The launch of a N2.5 billion fundraiser comes as Nigeria faces a complex humanitarian crisis, worsened by insecurity, and the effects of climate change.
The ICIR reports that the flood which ravaged parts of Borno State displaced residents and destroyed their homes while also displacing animals from the zoo.
The flood, which hit the state in the early hours of Tuesday, September 10, inundated several communities in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M