Peter Obi Raises Alarm Over UN Warning On Northern Nigeria’s Worsening Food Crisis
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the United Nations' warning of an impending food crisis in northern Nigeria, describing the situation as both tragic and avoidable.
In a statement shared on his X account, Obi blamed the worsening humanitarian situation on what he described as poor leadership and misplaced national priorities, stressing that northern Nigeria, widely regarded as the country's food basket, should not be facing such severe levels of hunger.
Citing the latest report by the World Food Programme (WFP), Obi noted that northern Nigeria is experiencing its worst hunger crisis in nearly a decade. According to the report, more than 17 million people across nine northern states are facing crisis-level food insecurity, while over 35 million Nigerians nationwide are projected to be at risk during the current lean season.
He also highlighted the alarming situation in Borno State, where over 10,000 residents have reportedly fallen into "catastrophic" hunger conditions, describing the development as a national failure.
Obi attributed the crisis largely to persistent insecurity, including banditry and insurgency, which have prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands and displaced many agrarian communities.
He urged the Federal Government and state governments to move beyond political rhetoric by making transparent investments in securing agricultural corridors, supporting smallholder farmers with accessible resources, and strengthening collaboration with the World Food Programme to close funding gaps before the crisis worsens.
The former presidential candidate further called for policies that address the structural barriers to agricultural productivity, improve rural infrastructure, and encourage a shift from consumption-driven policies to production-oriented economic strategies.
According to Obi, Nigeria possesses abundant fertile land and resources and should not rank among the world's hungriest nations if the right leadership and policies are put in place.
He maintained that a prosperous Nigeria free from hunger and mass poverty remains achievable, provided leaders prioritise the welfare and livelihoods of citizens over projects that do not directly address the country's pressing food security challenges.
Obi concluded by reiterating his campaign message, saying, "A New Nigeria is Possible."
