- By Halimah Olamide
The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism is today holding a session to examine how the media have acted in their reporting of the food inflation in the country.
Expected to speak at the event which holds virtually on Space are journalists covering agriculture, economists, and other experts in various areas connected with the food value chain.
NPO Reports that among those expected to speak at the event are Paul Alaje, a Senior Economist at the SPM Professionals, Collins Nnabuife, a journalist with the Nigerian Tribune, Yunusa Halidu, National Secretary of the All Nigerian Farmers Association, Veronica Dan-Akpoyi of the TVC who is the moderator, Josephine Okojie, a senior reporter on the Agric Desk of BusinessDay Newspaper, and a Partner at Poster Villiam, Tokunbo Akingbala.
Speakers are expected to examine the various angles of reportage of the current food inflation in the country leading to pervasive hunger among the populace.
Statistics of the relevant agencies in Nigeria and outside have pointed to a fast decline in food production.
A number of factors such as insecurity in the country, poor infrastructure like roads, poor financing and others have been identified as major factors leading to food inflation.
As at today a crate of tomatoes at Lagos market is said to sell between N40,000 to N48,000. A tuber of yam in Lagos now sells for between N3,000 and M5,000 or more.
A bag of rice for more than 6 months has remained between N75,000 and N85,000.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the latest figure shows food inflation to have risen by 33% by April 2024.
“The average annual rate of Food inflation for the twelve-month ending April 2024 over the previous twelve-month average was32.74 per cent, which was a 9.52 per cent points increase from the average annual rate of change recorded in April 2023 (23.22 per cent),” a report by the National Bureau of Statistics said.
Executive Director of WSCIJ Mrs Motunrayo Alaka, had repeatedly stated that its sessions are targeted towards guiding the media to report issues that touch the people.