Chuks Okocha in Abuja
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has requested the federal authorities to declare a nationwide emergency on starvation.
Obi made the decision in an X submit on the weekend to mark World Food Day, saying no Nigerian deserved to go to mattress hungry.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that about 36 million Nigerians would face acute starvation this 12 months.
The former Anambra State governor mentioned Nigeria’s starvation disaster had worsened, with the nation rating 117th out of 125 international locations, in contrast with 109th in 2023, when the present administration took workplace.
While the determine is appropriate, the 2026 Global Hunger Index (GHI), which Obi cited, ranked Nigeria 117th out of 122 international locations. Although 136 international locations had been assessed for the report, solely 122 had enough information to calculate starvation scores and decide rankings.
Obi mentioned the starvation state of affairs was troubling given Nigeria’s huge arable land, noting that about 60 % remained uncultivated and offered hideouts for non-state actors.
He mentioned starvation, poverty and insecurity continued to have an effect on hundreds of thousands of households regardless of the nation’s agricultural potential.
“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 mentioned.
The former Anambra State governor mentioned if elected president, his administration would prioritise safety and supply farmers with focused grants, subsidies and different types of help to spice up agricultural manufacturing.
He mentioned farmers should be capable to return to their farms and work in peace and dignity.
Obi added that he joined rural girls throughout Nigeria on Friday to mark International Rural Women’s Day, noting that their contributions to meals manufacturing underscored the necessity to deal with starvation as a nationwide emergency.
