Rising hunger in northern Nigeria has drawn concern from the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, who says the situation reflects insecurity and poor governance.
In a statement titled “UN’s Warning on Northern Nigeria’s Food Crisis” posted on his X account on Saturday, Obi reacted to a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) alert, which said northern Nigeria is facing its worst food crisis in nearly a decade.
He noted that the region, once regarded as Nigeria’s food basket due to its agricultural potential, is now facing severe food insecurity. According to the WFP report, more than 17 million people across nine northern states are experiencing crisis-level hunger, while over 35 million Nigerians nationwide are at risk during the current lean season.
He also referenced findings that over 10,000 people in Borno State have reached “catastrophic” hunger levels, describing it as a national tragedy.
Obi said the situation reflects a national failure, stressing that Nigeria should not be among the world’s hungriest countries given its vast arable land and resources. He blamed insecurity for worsening the crisis, noting that banditry and insurgency have displaced farming communities and restricted access to farmlands, reducing agricultural output.
He called for urgent action to restore security in farming areas, create safe agricultural corridors, and strengthen support for farmers through financing, inputs, and extension services.
Obi also urged collaboration with humanitarian agencies, including the WFP, to address funding gaps and prevent further deterioration of the crisis.
