To mark World Food Day, Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, took to social media to address the pressing issue of the food crisis in Nigeria and the urgent steps needed to address it.
He emphasised the severity of the crisis and the various factors contributing to the problem, including poverty and food insecurity.
He stressed the gravity of the food crisis in Nigeria, referring to data from the Global Hunger Index, which categorises the country as facing a severe level of hunger.
He noted that The crisis has become a significant challenge for numerous households nationwide.
His words:
”In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria ranked 109th out of the 125 countries measured, showing that we currently battle high levels of hunger.
”Reports have it that Nigeria’s food inflation rate in August 2023 was about 30 per cent on a year-on-year basis.
”Consequently, a vast majority of Nigerians spend the entirety of their disposable income on food, which is often hardly enough.
”The horrible spate of attacks on farmers in Nigeria by armed and terror groups has continued to hinder food production, food supplies and, therefore, threatening to push the country deeper into a devastating hunger crisis.
”Lack of adequate investment in agriculture also contributes greatly to the food crisis in Nigeria.
”I have maintained that the vast fertile lands in the North if put into productive agricultural use, will produce enough food for domestic consumption and for exports, which can give us more revenue than we generate from oil.
”Government, therefore, must invest heavily in agriculture to ensure sufficient food production for Nigeria and the global world.”
