The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over the worsening food crisis in northern Nigeria, blaming the situation on what he described as incompetent and irresponsible leadership.
Obi’s reaction followed a fresh United Nations report indicating that more than 17 million people across nine northern states were facing crisis-level hunger.
In a post on his 𝕏 handle on Saturday, the former Anambra State governor said the crisis was avoidable, particularly as the North remained Nigeria’s major food-producing region.
Citing the World Food Programme, Obi said the North was experiencing its worst hunger crisis in nearly a decade.
“I am deeply troubled by the latest report from the UN’s World Food Programme, indicating that northern Nigeria is experiencing its most severe hunger crisis in nearly a decade. Over 17 million people in nine northern states face crisis-level hunger, with more than 35 million Nigerians nationwide at risk during this challenging season,” he said.
Obi added that more than 10,000 residents of Borno State had entered what aid agencies classified as “catastrophic” hunger conditions.
“The fact that over 10,000 residents of Borno State have entered ‘catastrophic’ hunger conditions represents not only immense human suffering but also a profound national failure,” he said.
He described Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s hungriest nations as inexcusable, given the country’s vast, fertile and largely uncultivated land.
Obi attributed the worsening food crisis to insecurity and farmers’ inability to access their farmland.
“This food crisis stems from two critical structural failures: insecurity and farmers’ inability to access their lands. Banditry and insurgency have turned agrarian communities into displacement zones. Until we secure our agricultural areas, we cannot secure our future,” he said.
The former governor urged the Federal Government and state authorities to move beyond political rhetoric and make transparent investments in securing agricultural communities.
He also called for increased support for smallholder farmers through accessible resources.
Obi urged the government to strengthen collaboration with the World Food Programme to address funding gaps before the crisis worsens, particularly for vulnerable children.
