Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced serious alarm regarding the escalating hunger crisis in the nation’s north. He labeled the situation an entirely preventable consequence of poor governance.
Referencing a recent report from the United Nations World Food Programme, Obi highlighted that northern Nigeria, often labeled as the country’s agricultural heartland, is currently enduring its most intense food shortage in nearly ten years. Data reveals that over 17 million individuals across nine northern states are suffering from acute hunger, while more than 35 million people across the country face food insecurity during this lean season.
Obi specifically pointed to the dire situation in Borno State, where over 10,000 citizens are now facing catastrophic famine. He described this as a significant national failure, emphasizing that Nigeria should not be plagued by such hardship when it possesses vast amounts of arable land. According to the former Anambra governor, the crisis is primarily fueled by rising insecurity, as banditry and insurgency have forced many farmers to abandon their fields.
To mitigate this disaster, Obi called upon both federal and state authorities to focus on securing agricultural areas and providing essential support to small-scale farmers. He further urged the government to strengthen its partnership with the World Food Programme to bridge critical funding deficits immediately.
