The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is urging the federal authorities to develop measures that can stabilise meals costs, improve meals safety, and alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians.
Emeka Obegolu, ACCI’s president, made the decision in a press release on Saturday in Abuja.
Obegolu raised considerations on the persistent rise in commodity costs, which is adversely affecting small-scale enterprise house owners and escalating poverty ranges within the nation.
The ACCI president, who doubles because the chief of the organised non-public sector (OPS) in Abuja and environs, emphasised the pressing want for the federal government’s intervention.
“The surge in costs of important meals objects similar to rice, beans, cassava flour, tomatoes, pepper, onions, and others has aggravated the plight of the common citizen, rendering fundamental meals more and more unaffordable for a lot of households,” he mentioned.
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“Official data from the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) point out a staggering 44.66% meals inflation fee in Might 2024.
“Nevertheless, on-ground observations counsel that the true meals inflation fee exceeds 50%, highlighting the severity of the state of affairs and its dire impression on livelihoods.”
Obegolu mentioned failure to behave promptly might result in a state of malnutrition and additional worsen the nation’s socioeconomic challenges.
“Meals is a elementary necessity of life, and its affordability instantly impacts the well-being of residents,” Obegolu mentioned.
“The escalating meals inflation disaster poses extreme threats to meals safety and exacerbates poverty ranges. The federal government should take decisive motion to mitigate this disaster and alleviate the struggling of the populace.”
As well as, Obegolu mentioned the present financial local weather is having a detrimental impression on the enterprise neighborhood, particularly on farmers and sellers of agricultural merchandise, who’re combating interrupted operations.
He said that implementing measures to “clean issues out” would promote long-term socioeconomic progress within the nation.