The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for hunger to be declared a national emergency, citing worsening food insecurity, poverty and insecurity across Nigeria.
Obi said millions of Nigerians were facing acute hunger despite the country’s vast agricultural potential, blaming the crisis partly on insecurity and the underutilisation of arable land.
The former Anambra State governor made the call in a Facebook post marking the 2026 World Food Day, urging the government to take urgent and decisive action to tackle 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. He also cited an estimate by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) that about 36 million Nigerians would face acute hunger in 2026.
“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 Links Food Crisis to Insecurity
The NDC presidential candidate attributed the worsening food crisis partly to the underutilisation of Nigeria’s agricultural land, arguing that the country had extensive fertile land capable of supporting higher 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.
Obi said insecurity continued to disrupt farming activities, preventing farmers from accessing their farmlands and limiting their contribution to national food production.
He argued that tackling hunger required a comprehensive strategy focused on security, agricultural investment and support for farmers.
Obi Promises Grants and Subsidies for Farmers
Obi 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.
He also highlighted the role of rural women in agricultural production and food supply, stressing the need to address the challenges they face.
According to Obi, his engagement with rural women ahead of World Food Day, following the observance of International Rural Women’s Day, reinforced the urgency of tackling hunger and supporting those responsible for producing food.
He said Nigeria needed a food system that protected farmers, reduced poverty and ensured households could afford adequate food.
Obi Urges Urgent Action on Food Security
Reflecting 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 his call for hunger to be treated as a national emergency, urging 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.
