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00:00 "This warehouse is a crucial lifeline for some Nigerians amid a spiraling cost of living.
00:08 But the Lagos Food Bank is not immune from the economic crisis.
00:15 It's been forced to cut back on handouts to residents like Damilola Salami, as supplies
00:21 from donors have fallen amid soaring inflation."
00:25 "There's nothing for us to eat.
00:28 We are hungry.
00:29 Our children are out of school because of the hike in fees.
00:32 Now the children are at home and there's no food.
00:36 They should please have mercy.
00:37 We are hungry."
00:38 "Nigeria's economic turmoil has deepened since President Bola Tinobo rode out bold
00:47 but unpopular economic reforms after taking office last May.
00:53 Inflation rose for the 14th straight month in February to above 30 percent.
00:58 A new 28-year high.
01:02 Last month, seven people were killed in a crush at a Lagos food distribution centre.
01:09 Lagos Food Bank founder Michael Sumbola said his facility's major donor had cut supplies
01:16 by 93 percent, citing the high cost of food.
01:22 He said they've had to reduce the number of people they can help.
01:26 "Now we now do only women, now from age of 50.
01:30 So a lot of indices have really cut down the number for us to be able to meet the capacity
01:35 that we can do per time."
01:38 The food bank has also dialled back on quantities.
01:42 It now provides families with enough supplies for a few days at a time, when once their
01:48 parcels would have lasted two weeks.
01:51 No hunger initiatives, a food bank serving mostly internally displaced people in the
01:57 capital, Abuja, faces similar problems.
02:03 A senior official there said the number of people seeking handouts has tripled since
02:09 May 2023.
02:10 [BLANK_AUDIO]