AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ECONOMIC POLICIES OF TINUBU ADMINISTRATION IN ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Food, clothing, and shelter are the essential requirements for human beings. It is often known as necessary requirements. Throughout the history of human civilization, ensuring food security has been a crucial and necessary aspect for individuals.  It is crucial for countries with a substantial population and insufficient agricultural infrastructure.  The concept of food security originated around 50 years ago in response to the global food crises that occurred in the early 1970s. Approximately sixty years ago, a collection of almost 200 published definitions of food security were discovered in diverse works (Smith et al., 2023).  The concept of food security has undergone a significant and fundamental change in recent years, particularly in relation to its spatial and temporal aspects. From time to time, the concept of food security and its policies have been developed and modified according to the shared understanding of the nature of the food problem and the evolution of the global food system. 

Pete et al. (2017) accurately express the worldwide perspective on food security, asserting that in the future, guaranteeing access to an adequate and nourishing food supply would become progressively complex in the majority of countries. The factors influencing the impact on global food production encompass population growth, constrained land and water resources, changes in dietary patterns resulting from increased affluence, the consequences of floods and droughts in major food-producing areas, diminishing food exports, and a growing dependence of countries on food imports. Individuals have different interpretations of this remark. In countries undergoing desertification, the scarcity of water and cultivable land suited for irrigation presents a substantial barrier that frequently results in disputes. Countries experiencing intensifying monsoon rainfall have a recurring challenge that Bangladesh, for example, will find difficult to forget or overcome. Between August and October 2020, over two-thirds of Bangladesh's land area was inundated by floods (Samir, 2022). 

Food security, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is the state in which individuals have reliable and unrestricted access to a sufficient amount of food that is safe, nutritious, and meets their dietary needs and preferences, while also promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. Around one billion people endure undernourishment, which entails hunger and a deficiency in their daily calorie consumption (PAI, 2015). Food security has wide-ranging implications that extend beyond the well-being and health of individuals, as stated by Khan et al. (2018). Additionally, it plays a crucial role in upholding economic and political stability. A common observation is that countries facing political instability are typically linked to regions that have inadequate food security. In these nations, food hunger may arise as a consequence of political instability, or conversely, political instability may ensue as a result of food insecurity. There exists a robust correlation between the two elements, and they are intricately linked in the affected areas (Suraj et al., 2019). 

According to Okwuadei (2018), food insecurity refers to the state in which individuals lack regular access to adequate, safe, nutritious, and socially acceptable food, which is essential for maintaining good health and productivity. Food insecurity can present itself as a chronic, recurring problem, a seasonal issue, or a temporary condition. Food instability and hunger result in significant amounts of human suffering. Childhood fatalities in poor nations are primarily caused by chronic hunger and malnutrition, accounting for nearly 60 percent of deaths, as reported by the World Health Organisation in 2021. In less developed countries like Nigeria, persistent malnutrition makes children weak, vulnerable, and less able to fight common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, malaria, and measles.

The previous administration of Nigeria, under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari, had the objective of reducing poverty for 100 million Nigerians by the year 2030. The new government is now tasked with the burden of accomplishing this formidable ambition. President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, vowed to strengthen the nation, promote inclusivity, restructure the economy, improve security, and create jobs (Punch, 2023). He achieved this by adopting a multitude of agriculture programmes.  One of the programmes offered is the National Agriculture Growth Scheme-Agro-pocket, which provides support to millions of farmers. This support includes training on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), providing certified inputs such as improved seeds and organic and inorganic fertilisers, and offering irrigation equipment at highly subsidised prices. The aim is to improve farmers' production, increase productivity, and ultimately raise their incomes (Norma, 2023).

President Tinubu implemented an agricultural extension policy aimed at providing a practical, effective, and efficient demand-driven, ICT-enabled, and market-oriented extension service to all stakeholders, including youths, women, and people with special needs. The goal is to optimise resource utilisation and promote sustainable agriculture and socio-economic development in the country (FARA, 2023). Tinubu's administration has implemented many strategies to mitigate the impact of the current inflation on Nigeria. This study aims to assess the efficacy of the economic measures implemented by the President in tackling the issue of food insecurity in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Food insecurity continues to be a pressing concern in Nigeria, impacting numerous households around the nation. Multiple causes contribute to this issue, such as economic volatility, agricultural difficulties, and socio-political problems. To tackle food insecurity, it is necessary to implement comprehensive economic policies that enhance agricultural productivity, guarantee fair allocation of resources, and stabilize food prices. The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has pursued many economic initiatives with the objective of addressing food insecurity. The policies encompass agricultural subsidies, infrastructure investment, market regulation, and social welfare programmes. Although these activities are intended to improve food security, their efficacy in attaining this objective has not been adequately assessed.

A major worry with the food security initiative launched by the President is the recipients' lack of awareness and understanding of the policy (Osubare, 2024). Norma (2023) reports that the government has introduced initiatives such as the National Agriculture Growth Scheme-Agro-pocket to provide assistance to a large number of farmers. These projects include instruction on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), approved inputs such as enhanced seeds and organic and inorganic fertilisers, and irrigation equipment at significantly reduced prices. The objective is to enhance the agricultural output of farmers, boost efficiency, and ultimately elevate their earnings. Nevertheless, a significant number of farmers who have the potential to benefit from this initiative are uninformed about these programmes, which hinders their ability to engage and enjoy the advantages.

President Tinubu's food security agenda is further complicated by the presence of corruption (Ayomade, 2024). Embezzlement is widespread in Nigeria. This scenario could arise if there is a lack of sufficient regulatory organisations to oversee the effective functioning of the initiative. Thus, the need to conduct this inquiry arises.

Objectives of the study

The primary objective of this study is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of food distribution programs initiated by the Tinubu administration. Specific objectives of this study are to:

To evaluate level of prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria

To assess the effectiveness of the economic policies implemented by President Tinubu administration in addressing food insecurity

To examine the impact of the policies on agricultural productivity.

To provide recommendations to facilitate the implementation of the policy.

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions which are in line with the objectives of this study will be answered in this study:

What is the level of prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria?

What is the effectiveness of the economic policies implemented by President Tinubu administration in addressing food insecurity?

What are the impact of the policies on agricultural productivity?

What are the recommendations provided to facilitate the implementation of the policy?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

To determine the effectiveness of this study, the following research null hypotheses will be formulated to guide the study and it will be tested at 0.05% levels of significance.:

Ho: The level of prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria is low.

Ha: The level of prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria is high

1.6 Significance of the study

The importance of this study resides in its capacity to catalyse beneficial transformation in the battle against food insecurity in Nigeria. The study intends to assess the efficacy of President Tinubu's administration's policies to ensure they are reaching their intended objectives. The findings and suggestions obtained from this assessment will aid in the creation of improved, streamlined, and fairer policies, thereby bolstering the quality of life for at-risk communities and reinforcing food security in Nigeria. This study would establish a fundamental reference point for government officials, policymakers, Nigerian citizens, as well as students and academics.

The study offers crucial input on the efficacy of policies initiated by President Tinubu, assessing their performance and identifying areas for improvement. This information is extremely helpful for policymakers and programme administrators to improve and optimise the design and implementation of these projects. The study will additionally offer empirical data and facts that might guide future policy decisions. By relying on evidence-based recommendations, new policies and programmes are designed based on factual information and customised to address the specific requirements and concerns of the population.

The study aims to examine public opinion in order to gain insights into the effectiveness of current government policies and activities in assessing the program's success. Assessing the policies enhances public confidence and trust in government initiatives. When the general population observes that food distribution programmes are efficiently tackling food insecurity and enhancing their quality of life, it cultivates confidence in the administration and its endeavours.

Furthermore, future scholars will utilise it as a thorough examination of the current body of literature. Consequently, other students with an interest in investigating this subject will have the opportunity to utilise this work as existing knowledge that may be thoroughly evaluated. 

1.7 Scope of the study

Broadly, this study focus is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of food distribution programs initiated by the Tinubu administration. Specifically, this study seeks to evaluate level of prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria and assess the effectiveness of the economic policies implemented by President Tinubu administration in addressing food insecurity. 

Further, this study will focus on examining the impact of the policies on agricultural productivity, and it also seeks to provide recommendations to facilitate the implementation of the policy.

1.8 Limitations of the study

As is common in all human endeavours, the researchers faced minor limitations when conducting the study. The main limitation was the lack of extensive literature on the subject, as there is limited data available for a comprehensive study of an evaluation of the effectiveness of food distribution programs initiated by the Tinubu administration. Consequently, a significant amount of time and effort was necessary to locate the appropriate materials, books, or information and to gather data. 

Additionally, this study is constrained by its small sample size and narrow geographical scope, focusing just on Nigeria. Consequently, the results of this study are not applicable for generalization, thereby leaving room for further research. 

Additionally, the researcher's limitations were primarily due to financial constraints, as they are a student and do not have a source of income to sustain themselves. It was challenging to afford transportation expenses to and from the study location due to the high cost of transportation, which is influenced by inflation in Nigeria today.

Furthermore, the researcher faced a time constraint due to the need to do this research while also fulfilling the obligations of attending lectures and other educational activities.

1.9 Definition of terms

Food security: Food security is when a person is able to obtain a sufficient amount of healthy food on a day-to-day basis.

Food scarcity: food scarcity refers to the shortage of food supplies to meet the dietary needs of a population.

Malnutrition: Malnutrition is a medical condition that occurs when a person's nutrition is either insufficient or excessive, leading to harmful effects.

Standard of living: Standard of living refers to the overall degree of income, comforts, and services that are accessible within a society or specific place, rather than being specific to an individual