Obi laments soaring food prices, says hunger now household crisis

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has lamented the rising cost of living in Nigeria, stating that severe hunger has now become a member of many households across the country.

In a post on his X account to mark World Food Day, the former governor highlighted that the skyrocketing prices of food have made basic items unaffordable for Nigerians.

Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, noted that Nigeria is now ranked among the 20 most food-insecure nations in the world.

He said, “This global observance is particularly significant to us in Nigeria, where food prices are rising daily, 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 with the most arable land on the continent.

“Nigeria’s struggle with a food crisis and hunger is disheartening, especially considering the vast, fertile land we possess as a nation. In the past, I lamented that the majority of Nigerian households spent most of their income on food, leaving none for savings or other essential needs.

“Today, it is even more distressing to note that many Nigerian households can no longer afford basic sustenance with their income. Food prices are soaring, food inflation is rising, the food crisis is worsening by the day, and hunger has escalated into a national emergency.”

Obi expressed particular concern over the World Bank’s recent Food Security Update, which compared Nigeria’s worsening food security crisis to that of war-torn countries like Yemen.

On addressing food security in Nigeria, Obi said, “For years, I have maintained that moving the country from consumption to production is the most effective way to combat food insecurity and pull the nation out of its current food crisis. I have also stressed that the greatest asset we have as a nation is our vast uncultivated land in the North, along with our large population.

“Therefore, we must be deliberate in our agricultural investments. A state like Niger, which is twice the size of the Netherlands (excluding water), is unable to feed itself or the nation, while the Netherlands exports over $100 billion worth of agricultural products annually.

“If we prioritise investment in agriculture by addressing the insecurity that has kept farmers away from their fields, and adopt modern mechanised farming techniques, we will be able to combat hunger and achieve food security. A productive nation, free from hunger, with an abundant food supply remains our vision for a new, more prosperous Nigeria.”