World Food Day: Peter Obi calls for national emergency on hunger

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for hunger to be declared a national emergency in Nigeria, citing worsening food insecurity, poverty and insecurity across the country.

Obi said millions of Nigerians were facing acute hunger despite the country’s vast agricultural potential, blaming the situation on persistent insecurity and the failure to cultivate a significant portion of available arable land.

The former Anambra State Governor made the call in a Facebook post to mark the 2026 World Food Day, warning that urgent and decisive action was needed to address the country’s food crisis.

He said Nigeria’s position on the global hunger ranking had deteriorated, moving from 109th out of 125 countries in 2023 to 117th, while citing an estimate by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that about 36 million Nigerians would face acute hunger this year.

“Today, as the world marks World Food Day, Nigerians are confronting a painful reality: hunger, poverty, and insecurity continue to affect millions of families across the country,” he said.

Obi attributed the worsening food crisis partly to the underutilisation of Nigeria’s agricultural land, noting that the country had extensive fertile land capable of supporting increased food production.

“The tragedy is even more painful because Nigeria has vast, arable, and fertile land. Yet about 60% remains uncultivated, providing forest hideouts for terrorist organisations and other non-state actors,” he said.

He stressed that insecurity had continued to undermine farming activities, making it difficult for farmers to access their farmlands and contribute fully to national food production.

The NDC presidential candidate said addressing hunger required a comprehensive approach that prioritised security, agricultural investment and support for farmers.

He pledged that under his leadership, the government would strengthen national security and enable farmers to return safely to their farms.

“Under our leadership, we will secure the country and return our hardworking farmers to their farms. They will receive targeted grants, subsidies, and other forms of support,” he said.

Obi also emphasised the need to address the plight of rural women, who play significant roles in agricultural production and food supply.

He said his engagement with rural women ahead of World Food Day, which followed the observance of International Rural Women’s Day, reinforced the urgency of tackling hunger and supporting those responsible for producing food.

According to him, Nigeria must pursue a food system that protects farmers, reduces poverty and ensures that households can afford adequate food.

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On the significance of World Food Day, Obi said Nigerians deserved a country where families would not go hungry, farmers could work without fear, and poverty and insecurity were addressed with urgency and compassion.

“On World Food Day, the message is clear: Nigerians deserve a country where no family goes to bed hungry, farmers can work without fear, and poverty and insecurity are confronted with urgency and compassion,” he said.

He reiterated that the fight against hunger should be treated as a national emergency, urging a renewed commitment to agricultural development and food security.

“Together, we can build a Nigeria where no one goes to bed hungry and every farmer can work in peace and dignity,” Obi added.