Following the recent increase in food prices, the Association of Professional Food Service Providers (APFSPN) has urged the Federal Government (FG) to declare a state of emergency on food security.

Its President, Monioluwa Osho, made the appeal during a recent protest in Lagos over the steady increase in prices of commodities. Osho, who is the Chief Executive of Simply She Catering Limited , said: “ Food prices have continued to be on the rise across Nigeria markets daily. The galloping inflation has further deteriorated the living conditions and reduced purchasing power of the citizens due to the impact of removal of fuel subsidy.

“ APFSPN members are protesting the gradual extinction of their catering businesses caused by a persistent daily increase in food prices.”The Chairman of Board of Trustees of APFSPN, Morenike Okupe, also the Chief Executive of Malas Catering Limited, added that food commodities monitored included Garri, wheat, meat, flour, noodles, sugar, millet, tomatoes, palm oil, vegetable oil, among others..

The food price increase is being aggravated by the prolonged insecurity, poor policies, CBN Naira floating, and wars between Russia – Ukraine and Israeli-Hamas.

APFSPN Spokesperson, Folake Oba- Kasumu disclosed that the price of a bag of rice increased by 60.5 per cent and transport fares by 60.59 per cent within one year.

“As the citizens enter the yuletide season, one bag of rice has risen to N60,000 and has hits 17 years high as the food prices continue to soar.
 
“APFSPN, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to release reserves from the grain silos to curtail the rice in prices of commodities such as grains.