The Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya, serving as the Archbishop of Kaduna Province and Bishop of Kaduna Diocese, delivers a compelling message to the federal government. He emphasizes the critical importance of addressing food security, pointing out the distressing reality faced by many Nigerians who struggle to afford basic food necessities.
Despite Nigeria’s wealth in resources like gold and diamonds, hunger persists among its citizens. The Archbishop’s call to action underscores the imperative for immediate measures to ensure that all Nigerians have access to an adequate and affordable food supply.
During his address at the 23rd Synod and 70th Anniversary of Kaduna Diocese of the Anglican Communion at St. Christopher Anglican Church in Kaduna, the cleric delved into the theme “The Lord is my Shepherd” with a focus on urging action from the federal government and broader society.
He began by emphasizing the critical importance of addressing food security, highlighting the stark reality that many Nigerians struggle to access sufficient and nutritious food on a regular basis. This, he emphasized, is not just an economic or logistical issue but a moral imperative that requires immediate attention.
Moving on, he underscored the significance of fostering a strong sense of nationhood in a country as diverse as Nigeria. With its multitude of ethnicities, religions, and cultures, he argued that promoting unity and understanding among the populace is essential for national cohesion and progress.
Furthermore, Archbishop Yahaya drew attention to the pervasive issue of insecurity plaguing the nation. From terrorism to banditry to communal violence, he emphasized the urgent need for the government to take decisive action to restore safety and stability to the country.
He called upon the labor movement to adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges facing Nigerian workers. He stressed that issues such as job security, working conditions, healthcare, and education are all integral components of ensuring the well-being of the workforce and must be addressed collectively.
“Nigeria is a country that is living on gold and diamond yet the people are hungry. The federal government should address nationhood and the issue of food security is very paramount because a hungry man is an angry man. The federal government should declare state of emergency on insecurity. Let insecurity become history in the next three or four months or before the end of the year. Life is not easy in Nigeria, the gari that used to be the food of the common man is now a luxury because the minimum wage is not enough to cater for the need of the workers.
“The salary of workers for two months cannot buy a bag of maize. Bread used to be a replacement for main food, but it is now a luxury. A loaf of bread as at the last time I asked is N1, 700 which a common man cannot afford. We are now suffering hyperinflation. The price of good changes every time, CFA is now more important than naira. We should instead of imposing taxation go back to our industries and agriculture. You cannot remove tariff and expect everything to be okay. We spend money for power, we have darkness and we pay for darkness.”
