Hardship: We Eat To Survive, Not Interested In Nutritious Meals—FCT Residents

As the world celebrates “Food Day” with a call to action on the accessibility and affordability of a healthy diet, Nigerians have revealed they no longer eat for nutrients but for survival.

This THE WHISTLER learned, was to cut down on the cost of meals to address the rising standard of living across all essential needs.

The right to healthy food, a legally binding human right in international law, enshrined in Article 11 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1966 means that food must be adequate, available and accessible to all.

However, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said over 2.8 billion people are unable to afford a healthy diet, adding that more than 600 million people fall ill and 420,000 die every year as a result of eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, toxins and chemicals. 

According to the United Nations, the global food pandemic is prevalent in countries with low purchasing power against a high standard of living.

According to market research conducted by THE WHISTLER, the purchasing power of many households has been eroded despite a 133 per cent surge in the minimum wage to N70,000 from the N30,000 minimum wage.

This means that the amount is far less valuable than the N7,500 minimum wage of 2000, the N18,000 wage of 2011 and the N30,000 wage of 2019.

Also, with the introduction of a managed float of the naira which now trades at N1652.16 at the official market from N462 per dollar in 2023, the cost of living has spiked beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

Food Inflation has risen from 24.82 per cent when the administration took over in May 2023 to 39.70 per cent in September 2024.

Market research showed that between 2019 and 2024, the price of a 50kg bag of rice surged from N24,000 to an average of N110,000, while a crate of eggs (30 pieces) which previously sold for N800 has surged to N6,000 respectively.

This price hike is reflected across all 36 states, with regional variations.

Speaking to THE WHISTLER, Umaru Danladi, a vulcanizer in Gwarinpa, said, he no longer goes for vitamins or nutrients but for survival.
He said, “I can’t remember the last time my children ate eggs, I hear it is N5,500 for small size and N6,000 for jumbo (big) size now. That protein is none of my business anymore”.

Expressing his frustration, he told THE WHISTLER, “How can I meet up, even if I pump ten vehicles at N200 each, I can’t afford a crate of eggs a day. Also my family consume fruit once a week”.

Ugonna Grace, a woman in her late 30s said she is not after consuming healthy diet, adding that her priority is not to starve to death.

The widowed mother of three, a resident in Nyanya, who survives on the daily sales generated from selling raw pap, told our correspondent that the basic nutrients like fish, milk, meat, oil, fruits and vegetables are beyond her purchasing power.

She said, “We no longer eat beans in my home, the cost of a mudu of brown and iron white beans is sold for N4,000, from what used to be N400.

“So, I have substituted beans for rice, fish for ponmo, vegetable oil for palm oil. Tea has been replaced with pap/kunu, we eat vegetable stew in place for tomatoes stew while chicken meals in my home is now a ceremonial meal.”

But Micheal Aina, a bachelor in his mid-20s and resident of Abia state, said quality over quantity would always be prioritized.

“I would always prioritize quality over quantity. If I eat three cups of beans, I would slash it to one and half, but not scrapping it out of my meal plan entirely.

“I do not substitute any meal at all, I still take my proteins (eggs, meat, fish, shrimp etc.), even though my income did not increase.

“I love good meals, so I would always prioritize quality over quantity.”