Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has raised alarms following a United Nations report detailing a severe food crisis in Northern Nigeria. He is calling for swift government intervention to mitigate the situation.
Highlighting the irony of the region, which is historically the nation’s primary agricultural hub, Obi emphasized the need for more efficient policy execution to manage the escalating humanitarian emergency. He encouraged both state and federal authorities to invest in the safety of agricultural routes and provide small-scale farmers with necessary support.
Collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) is essential, according to Obi, to address financial shortfalls. Current WFP data reveals that roughly 17 million individuals in nine northern states face extreme hunger, with a national estimate of 35 million people at risk. Borno state alone has over 10,000 residents suffering from critical levels of starvation.
Obi identified banditry and insurgency as the primary barriers preventing farmers from reaching their fields. He advocates for enhanced security, improved rural infrastructure, and a shift toward production-focused economic strategies. He remains convinced that Nigeria has the potential to eliminate widespread poverty and hunger if government leadership prioritizes the well-being of the populace.
