Food banks gain popularity as Nigerians grapple with high living costs
3 min read
Residents of Oworonshoki Slum smile and gesture after receiving food aid from the Lagos Food Bank Initiative in Lagos, Nigeria, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
At the Lagos Food Bank, volunteers work tirelessly, packing boxes filled with essential supplies for some of the city’s most impoverished communities. Nigeria, with a population exceeding 210 million — the largest in Africa — is also among the hungriest countries globally.
The economic challenges under President Bola Tinubu’s administration are primarily attributed to soaring inflation, which reached a 28-year high of 33.8% in October, coupled with government policies that have caused the naira (local currency) to plummet against the dollar. With more than 30 million Nigerians facing acute hunger, according to the United Nations, food banks—previously rare in Nigeria—have become crucial lifelines for many.
The Lagos Food Bank initiative focuses on assisting vulnerable populations, such as those living on the city’s outskirts. While the people in these communities wish they didn’t have to depend on food banks, they are grateful for the help they receive.
Anike Adeshina, a widow from the area, recalls a time when life was better. “We used to make profits from business, and we could afford to pay school fees for the children,” she says. “We never thought about the food bank because things were good.” However, when the economic situation worsened, she found herself struggling to provide for her family. “Eating became a huge problem,” Adeshina shares. “We’re not happy to seek assistance, but we’re helpless. The house rent is high, my children have no jobs, and business is slow. If not for food banks, I wouldn’t be here.”
The staggering rise in the cost of living has left many residents facing hunger. “Sometimes we eat eba (cassava paste) with vegetable soup but without any protein. There’s nothing else unless there’s a miracle,” Adeshina explains. “When the children are very hungry, they eat the leftovers. We don’t ask if they are satisfied because there’s nothing more to give.”
Another community member, Omotola Gbolabo, expresses her gratitude for the food bank. Without it, she says, her children would go without food. “Christmases in previous years were good, but this year, there’s nothing to eat. We can’t afford rice, noodles, or even fried eggs,” she says. “Sometimes we only have boiled corn and water before going to bed. That’s how we’ve been surviving.”
The Lagos Food Bank was founded in 2016 by Michael Sunbola. According to a report by the World Food Programme (WFP), over 70% of Nigeria’s population can barely afford a healthy diet, and food inflation has risen to nearly 40%. Sunbola explains that this has led to increased demand for food aid. “We’ve had to increase our budgets, and at times, we even reduce the portion sizes in order to reach more people,” he says.
The food bank’s operations rely on dedicated volunteers who are passionate about helping the most vulnerable. “Our work is vital,” says Sunbola. “It’s a constant reminder that we need to make the world a better place. We must extend our hands to those in need. There are families who haven’t eaten in a day, and the food bank helps provide them with hope.”
Beyond feeding the poor, the Lagos Food Bank is also committed to reducing food waste. Sunbola highlights the significant amount of food that goes to waste each year due to poor storage infrastructure. This issue, along with others, inspired him to establish the food bank. “Many of the food produced on our farms goes to waste due to logistical problems. So we decided to create the Lagos Food Bank to address this issue.”
The initiative was also born out of Sunbola’s personal experience with food insecurity. Having faced hunger during his childhood, he empathizes deeply with the challenges faced by the food bank’s beneficiaries. “I experienced food insecurity growing up, so I understand what these people are going through. That’s what fuels my passion to help close the hunger gap.”
President Tinubu’s economic reforms, such as the suspension of long-standing gas subsidies, were intended to save the government money and attract foreign investment. However, analysts argue that the reforms have led to higher prices across the board, especially due to the lack of timely and sufficient support programs for the most vulnerable citizens.
In these challenging times, the Lagos Food Bank has become an essential resource, offering not just food, but hope to those struggling to survive in one of the world’s most economically distressed regions.
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