Lagos Food Bank becomes a lifeline as Nigeria struggles with economic crisis

Volunteers at the Lagos Food Bank are tirelessly packing boxes of essential supplies for some of the city’s most vulnerable communities, as Nigeria faces one of its worst hunger crises in decades.

With over 30 million Nigerians suffering from acute hunger, according to the United Nations, food banks once rare in the country—have become a critical source of relief. The Lagos Food Bank, established in 2016, is at the forefront of this effort, providing food to impoverished communities on the outskirts of the city.

The economic hardships under President Bola Tinubu’s administration have exacerbated the situation. Inflation reached a 28-year high of 33.8% in October, and the local currency has plummeted to record lows against the dollar, driven by sweeping reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidies.

For people like widow Anike Adeshina, the food bank is a lifeline.
“Life used to be good. Business was profitable, and we could afford school fees for our children,” she says. “But now, eating is a big problem. If not for the food bank, I don’t know how we would survive.”

The soaring cost of living has left many families struggling to meet basic needs.
“If you manage to eat in the morning, it’s eba with vegetable soup no protein. If the children are still hungry, they make do with leftovers. We don’t even ask if they are satisfied because there’s nothing else we can do,” Adeshina explains.

Another beneficiary, Omotola Gbolabo, shares a similar plight.
“This year’s Christmas will be nothing like the past. We can’t afford rice, noodles, or even fried eggs. My children eat what little we can manage, often just boiled corn and water before bed,” she says.

The Lagos Food Bank’s founder, Michael Sunbola, underscores the urgency of their work.
“Over 70% of Nigerians can barely afford a healthy diet, with food inflation nearing 40%. Demand for our services has surged, forcing us to stretch our resources to reach more people,” he says.

Sunbola’s initiative not only feeds the hungry but also addresses food waste by redistributing surplus produce from farms that would otherwise spoil due to storage and infrastructure challenges.

Volunteers at the food bank play a crucial role, helping distribute aid and fostering hope among struggling families.
“Our mission is to remind people that we can make the world a better place by helping our neighbors,” says Sunbola. “There are families in our community who haven’t eaten since yesterday. Our work is about giving them hope.”

Sunbola’s passion for fighting hunger stems from his own childhood experiences with food insecurity.
“I know what it’s like to go without. That’s why I’m committed to closing the hunger gap,” he says.

As Nigeria grapples with economic reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy, critics argue that inadequate support measures have worsened the impact on ordinary citizens. For many, food banks like the Lagos Food Bank have become an indispensable lifeline in these trying times.