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World Food Day: Severe Hunger Has Become An Unfortunate Member Of Many Households In Nigeria
As the world marks the World Food Day (WFD), the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s 2023 election, Peter Obi has decried that ‘basic food items are becoming unaffordable to most people’.
In a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday, the former governor of Anambra State wept that “Nigeria – the once giant of Africa, a nation that has the most arable land in the continent”, has fallen to a level where “the Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria among the 20 most hungry nations in the world”.
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He, however, expressed optimism that “If we can prioritize investment in agriculture by combating insecurity which has kept farmers away from the farms, and adopting modern ways of mechanized farming, we will be able to combat hunger and achieve food security for the nation.”
Obi wrote, “Today, the world marks World Food Day, a very significant global event that raises awareness about the issues of hunger and food insecurity and serves as a reminder of the need to commit to food security and fight hunger to a standstill.
“This global observance is particularly important to us in Nigeria, where food prices are skyrocketing every day, and basic food items are becoming unaffordable to most people.
“Severe hunger has now become an unfortunate member of many households in Nigeria – the once giant of Africa, a nation that has the most arable land in the continent.
“Nigeria’s struggle with a food crisis and hunger today is saddening, considering the richly blessed and vast arable lands with which we are endowed as a nation.
“In the past, I used to lament that the majority of Nigerian households spent most of their income on food alone, sparing none for savings and other critical exigencies.
“Today, it is heartbreaking to note that most Nigerian households are no longer able to afford sustenance food with their income.
“Food prices are soaring, food inflation is skyrocketing, the food crisis is worsening by the day, and hunger has graduated to a national crisis.
“In a Food Security Update Report released last week, the World Bank likened Nigeria’s worsening food security crisis to war torn countries like Yemen, noting that we have a significant rise in the number of people facing acute food shortages and an epidemic of hunger.
“Today, the Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria among the 20 most hungry nations in the world. In August 2024, it was reported that more than 31.8 million Nigerians were acutely short of food due to security challenges and the removal of fuel subsidies.
“It was also reported that 15.6 million children in Nigeria were facing hunger.
“The United Nations predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 percent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030 if the government fails to tackle the menace of food insecurity.
“The domestic food inflation in Nigeria remains among the highest globally, with food prices increasing by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024.
“I believe these reports, sad as they are, only paint a lenient picture of the severity of the food crisis and hunger in reality.
“Over the years, I have maintained that moving the country from consumption to production remains the surest way of combating food insecurity and pulling the nation out of the present food crisis.
“I have equally stated, unequivocally, that the greatest asset our nation has is the vast uncultivated lands in the North coupled with our huge demographics.
“Therefore, we must be intentional with our agricultural investments.
“A state like Niger State, which is twice bigger in landmass than the Netherlands (excluding water) can neither feed itself nor feed the nation, while the Netherlands exports over $100 billion worth of agro products annually.
“If we can prioritize investment in agriculture by combating insecurity which has kept farmers away from the farms, and adopting modern ways of mechanized farming, we will be able to combat hunger and achieve food security for the nation.
“A nation booming in productivity, free from hunger, with an abundant food supply remains our commitment to a New more prosperous Nigeria. It is POssible! -PO”
Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against criticisms over the difficulties facing Northern Nigeria.
He argued that the North has received substantial financial support through regional development commissions and should focus on utilizing these resources effectively.
Zailani made this statement while speaking to journalists after receiving Alhaji Yerima Shettima, President-General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), who visited to offer condolences following the passing of his stepmother, Hajia Fatima Abdullahi (Goggu Ladi).
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He noted that Tinubu’s administration had provided significant financial backing to the North, particularly through the creation of regional development commissions, each receiving ₦750 billion annually—totaling ₦2.25 trillion for the region.
“President Tinubu has, in his own way, liberated the North from poverty and underdevelopment.
“With an annual budget of ₦750 billion allocated to each of the North’s three development commissions—totaling ₦2.25 trillion annually—the North has no reason to struggle with poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment,” Zailani stated.
He pointed out that if these funds were used efficiently, they could transform key sectors such as power, agriculture, and industrialization.
He cited an example where ₦200 billion could generate 100 megawatts of solar power, while investments in fertilizer blending plants and research could boost agricultural productivity.
Zailani stressed the need for accountability, urging Northerners to shift their focus from blaming the Federal Government to questioning the performance of their own development commissions.
“Instead of constantly questioning what the Federal Government is doing or not doing, we should be asking what our development commissions are doing with the allocated funds,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the Proposed Tax Reforms Bill, which some argue favors industrialized states like Lagos, Zailani encouraged the North to take advantage of its development funding and focus on self-sufficiency.
“Now that we have been empowered with development commissions, let us build our own industries and generate our own taxes instead of complaining,” he added.
He also commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for his efforts in infrastructure development, particularly his directive for the construction of 20 kilometers of asphalt roads in each constituency.
He called on AYCF and similar organizations to collaborate with the government to drive progress in the region.
In response, Alhaji Yerima Shettima offered prayers for the late Hajia Fatima Abdullahi and reaffirmed AYCF’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
“We will continue to uphold the truth and ensure justice for all,” Shettima stated.
The Lagos State Government has announced the closure and diversion of traffic on the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route) for two months to allow for emergency repairs.
In a statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed that the repair work would commence on Wednesday, March 19, and run until Monday, May 26, 2025.
As a result, the section of the road from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge down to Independence Bridge will be closed to vehicular movement.
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Additionally, the Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge service lane inbound Independence Bridge will not be accessible to motorists. However, the service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe will remain open.
To ease traffic congestion, the government has provided alternative routes for motorists.
“For motorists heading to Victoria Island from Ahmadu Bello Way, Osiyemi advised using Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then proceeding to Falomo Roundabout and linking Obafemi Awolowo Road to access Ring Road.
“Those traveling to the 3rd Mainland Bridge from Ahmadu Bello Way should go through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then link Alfred Rewane Road to Osborne Road before connecting to Ring Road.
“Motorists heading to Inner Marina and CMS from Ahmadu Bello Way will be diverted through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street to connect Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access J.K. Randle Road/King George V Road.
Osiyemi assured that traffic management personnel would be deployed to regulate movement during the repair period.
“Motorists heading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Inner Marina/CMS will have through-traffic access,” he said.
The commissioner also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring minimal disruption, stating that officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be on the ground to manage traffic flow along the affected routes.
The state government urged residents to plan their journeys accordingly and comply with the alternative routes to ease congestion during the two-month repair period.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved the recruitment of 1,100 primary school teachers to fill vacancies in public schools across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The announcement was made in a statement on Sunday by Bolu Ajijo, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
According to the statement, the approval was granted after the completion of the recruitment process.
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“As part of deliberate efforts to fill critical vacancies in public primary schools across the state, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the employment of one thousand one hundred teachers by the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board,” the statement read.
Reacting to the decision, the Executive Chairman of Ondo SUBEB, Victor Olambitan, commended the governor for addressing the shortage of teachers in the state’s public schools.
“The employment will go a long way in improving the pupil-teacher ratio in our public primary schools and, at the same time, enhance the quality of education delivered in schools, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas across the state,” Olambitan stated.
He also assured applicants that details on how to check the list of successful candidates and begin the documentation process would be made public soon.
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