Fresh concern has been raised over Nigeria’s worsening food situation after the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, warned that the growing hunger crisis in Northern Nigeria reflects what he described as a failure of leadership and demands urgent action.
In a statement titled “UN’s Warning on Northern Nigeria’s Food Crisis,” shared on his X account, Obi reacted to the latest assessment by the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), describing the findings as deeply disturbing for a country blessed with vast agricultural potential.
According to Obi, the report indicates that Northern Nigeria is facing its worst hunger crisis in nearly a decade, with more than 17 million people across nine northern states experiencing crisis-level food insecurity. He also noted that over 35 million Nigerians nationwide are at risk during the current lean season.
The former Anambra State governor said he was particularly alarmed by reports that more than 10,000 residents of Borno State have entered what the WFP classified as “catastrophic” hunger conditions, describing the situation as a humanitarian emergency that should concern every Nigerian.
Obi argued that Nigeria should not be ranked among countries battling severe hunger, considering its abundant natural resources and the vast expanse of fertile land available for cultivation, particularly across the northern region.
He attributed much of the worsening food crisis to persistent insecurity, saying farmers have been unable to access their farmlands because of banditry, insurgency and violent attacks that have displaced thousands of farming communities.
Calling for urgent intervention, Obi urged the Federal Government and state governments to strengthen security around farming communities, invest in agricultural corridors and provide greater support for smallholder farmers through improved access to funding, inputs and modern farming resources.
He also appealed for stronger collaboration with the World Food Programme to address funding shortages and prevent the food emergency from escalating further.
The World Food Programme has repeatedly warned of increasing food insecurity in conflict-affected parts of Nigeria, particularly in the North-East, where insecurity and displacement continue to disrupt agricultural production and livelihoods.
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