Obi expresses concerns over UN warning on Northern Nigeria’s food crisis

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Peter Obi

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Mr Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Saturday expressed concerns over a recent United Nations warning about a worsening food crisis in Northern Nigeria, calling for urgent government intervention to prevent further deterioration.

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Obi, a former governor of Anambra, made the call in a post on his X account, describing the situation as troubling, particularly because northern Nigeria has traditionally been regarded as the country’s food-producing region.

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He said a more effective policy implementation is needed to address the growing humanitarian challenge.

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Obi urged the federal government and state governments to make proactive investments in securing agricultural corridors and support smallholder farmers with accessible resources.

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He urged governments to work closely with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other development partners to bridge funding gaps before the crisis worsened.

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According to him, the WFP’s latest assessment indicates that more than 17 million people across nine northern states are facing crisis-level hunger, while over 35 million Nigerians nationwide could be at risk during the current lean season.

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He also cited reports that more than 10,000 residents of Borno had entered what humanitarian agencies classified as ‘catastrophic hunger conditions’.

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“Insecurity, including banditry and insurgency, has prevented many farmers from accessing their farmlands and remains a major obstacle to agricultural production,” he said.

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Obi called for improved security in farming communities as well as increased investment in rural infrastructure and agricultural productivity.

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He further urged policymakers to prioritise production-driven economic policies aimed at expanding cultivated land and increasing agro-industrial output.

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According to him, Nigeria possesses the resources and agricultural potential to substantially reduce hunger and poverty if the appropriate measures are implemented.

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He maintained that a Nigeria free from widespread hunger and mass poverty remained achievable if leaders placed the welfare and livelihoods of citizens at the centre of national decision-making. (NAN)

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