Taiwo Oyedele, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, has disclosed that certain households in Nigeria allocate up to 120 percent of their earnings exclusively toward food purchases, compelling them to borrow funds or depend on family members to get by.
Oyedele spoke at Chatham House in London, where he said a government survey showed that food expenses exceeded the incomes of some households.
“In fact, there was a survey we did that shows that up to 120 per cent of household income is spent on food. Like, how do you spend 120 per cent of your income? You borrow food before the end of the month,” he said.
The minister said Nigeria’s poverty rate remained above 50 per cent despite an unemployment rate of about five per cent, pointing to the growing number of people who work but still struggle to meet their basic needs.
“That tells you something. As a policymaker, you don’t sit back and say we don’t have unemployment. You have working poor,” he said.
Oyedele attributed the pressure on households to high food prices, which he said were not falling as quickly as headline inflation. Food inflation stood at 19.6 per cent in September.
“Headline inflation is falling faster than the price of a basket of tomatoes, gari, and beans. And this widens inequality,” he said.
“Macroeconomic stability means little to a mother who still cannot afford food,” he added.
The minister also said Nigeria had no taxes on fuel, arguing that the pressure on household budgets was linked to deeper structural problems rather than fuel taxes.
He identified low agricultural yields, seasonal farming, post-harvest losses, poor storage and logistics, high transport costs and insecurity in farming communities as major factors driving food prices.
He cited losses of up to 60 per cent of tomatoes after harvest as an example of the challenges facing the agricultural sector.
On measures to address the situation, Oyedele said the government was investing in agricultural technology, irrigation to support year-round farming, improved storage facilities and access to finance for smallholder farmers.
He said the administration was also providing direct support through a cash transfer programme that had reached more than 10 million “In the short term, the administration is providing direct support through a cash transfer programme that has reached more than 10 million households. Payments are made digitally and beneficiaries are verified with National Identification Numbers to reduce leakage,” he said.
Oyedele said the government was prioritising agriculture and non-tradable services, which together employ 81.4 per cent of working Nigerians.
He said the aim was to grow the sectors faster than the overall economy, increase incomes and gradually reduce dependence on cash transfers.
What You Should Know
With food inflation remaining high, many working-class families are finding it increasingly difficult to survive on their regular salaries alone. The government attributes this pressure to structural challenges in agriculture, such as high transport costs, post-harvest losses, and security issues in farming areas.
- Positive Impact: The federal government is rolling out digital cash transfers and investing in irrigation and modern storage to lower food costs and support smallholder farmers.
- Potential Concerns: Households continue to face extreme financial strain and growing inequality as the cost of basic food items outpaces wage growth.
