Peter Obi calls for national emergency declaration over Nigeria hunger crisis

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the federal government to declare hunger a national emergency. Marking World Food Day, Obi highlighted a worsening food crisis, noting that Nigeria’s global hunger ranking dropped from 109th out of 125 countries in 2023 to 117th in recent assessments.

Obi expressed concern that approximately 60 percent of Nigeria’s vast arable land remains uncultivated. He warned that these unused areas have become hideouts for criminal networks and terrorist groups, which further exacerbates insecurity and prevents farmers from working. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that roughly 36 million Nigerians will face acute hunger this year.

To address the crisis, Obi pledged that his administration would prioritize security and provide farmers with targeted grants, subsidies, and other support measures to restore agricultural production and ensure food security.