Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has lamented the worsening state of poverty in the country occasioned by the devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With several international outlets listing the country as one of the world’s poorest, the Voice of Nigeria reported that Mr. Osinbajo expressed this deep concern on Tuesday while speaking at the United Nations’ national dialogue on the Nigeria Food System held virtually.

The virtual dialogue was aimed at tackling hunger and diseases, thereby improving health care both locally and globally.

He admitted, “Poverty has deepened, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 and its economic fallout.”

Osinbajo further identified the challenges the government is facing in job creation and safety, food production, and health.

He explained, “Malnutrition and unhealthy dietary practices create unique threats to health and productivity for generation after generation. So it is a significant challenge to produce enough food for a rapidly growing population, especially giving the changes required in the modernisation of farming practices, mechanisation, and reduction of post-harvest losses.”

Speaking further, he pointed out, “Aside from the inherent difficulties in recommending dietary changes, which is habit-forming and for most people, there are tough questions about what practices make sense in developing countries.”