TDPresidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has expressed concern over a recent United Nations warning about worsening food insecurity in northern Nigeria, urging governments at all levels to take urgent action to avert a deeper humanitarian crisis.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, Obi said the situation was particularly disturbing because northern Nigeria has traditionally served as the country’s major food-producing region.
“The growing food crisis in northern Nigeria is deeply troubling, especially because the region has historically been regarded as the nation’s food basket,” Obi said, adding that stronger leadership and more effective policy implementation were needed to address the challenge.
The former governor called on the Federal Government and state governments to make what he described as transparent and upfront investments in securing agricultural corridors, supporting smallholder farmers with accessible resources, and collaborating closely with the World Food Programme and other development partners to close funding gaps before the situation deteriorates further.
Obi cited the WFP’s latest assessment, which he said showed 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.
He also referenced reports indicating that more than 10,000 residents of Borno State have entered what humanitarian agencies classify as catastrophic hunger conditions, describing the development as a grave warning that requires immediate attention.
According to Obi, persistent insecurity—including banditry and insurgency—has prevented many farmers from accessing their farmlands and remains one of the biggest obstacles to agricultural production in the region.
He therefore called for improved security in farming communities, alongside broader investments in rural infrastructure, irrigation, storage facilities, and agricultural productivity.
“We must prioritise policies that expand cultivation, support farmers, and increase agro-industrial output,” he said. “Nigeria has the resources, the land, and the human capacity to dramatically reduce hunger and poverty if the right measures are implemented.”
Obi further urged policymakers to adopt production-driven economic policies that would boost food production, create jobs, and strengthen rural economies.
He concluded by saying that a Nigeria free from widespread hunger and mass poverty remains achievable if leaders place the welfare, livelihoods, and dignity of citizens at the centre of national decision-making.
The UN and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that conflict, displacement, climate-related shocks, and rising food prices continue to threaten food security across several parts of northern Nigeria.
