Thursday, October 17, 2024 -Peter Obi, the former Anambra State Governor, 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.”
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