Peter Obi
***Says Nigeria Now Among World’s Most Food-Insecure Nations
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC), Peter Obi, has raised alarm over Nigeria’s deepening food crisis, arguing that despite government declarations of a “food emergency” and large-scale agricultural interventions, hunger levels in the country have continued to worsen rather than improve.
Obi, in a strongly worded statement on Nigeria’s food security situation via his X-Handle faulted the administration’s assessment of progress in the agricultural sector, insisting that official claims of improvement do not reflect the lived reality of millions of Nigerians struggling with rising food prices and worsening access to basic nutrition.
He recalled that in July 2023, the Federal Government declared a food security emergency, a move that was followed by announcements of major investments in agricultural mechanisation, including the reported acquisition of 2,000 tractors and about 9,000 farming implements described as the largest of its kind in the country.
However, Obi argued that despite these interventions, Nigeria’s food security indicators have moved in the opposite direction.
Citing global hunger assessments, he said Nigeria’s ranking has deteriorated from 103rd out of 123 countries in 2022/2023 to 115th out of 123 countries in 2025/2026, placing the country among the worst affected globally in terms of hunger and food insecurity.
He further referenced projections estimating that as many as 33 million Nigerians could face severe hunger, warning that the situation represents a growing humanitarian and economic crisis.
Obi expressed concern that Nigeria, a country with vast arable land and significant agricultural potential, should not be struggling with chronic food insecurity, stressing that underutilised farmland—particularly in the northern region—remains a missed opportunity for national development.
He argued that the country’s agricultural policy direction must shift from policy announcements to transparent, large-scale investment in actual production systems that can guarantee food security and stimulate employment.
According to him, effective agricultural transformation would not only reduce hunger but also serve as a major driver of job creation and economic stability.
Obi concluded by reiterating his long-standing call for national renewal, insisting that with the right leadership and execution, Nigeria can overcome its current challenges.
“A new Nigeria is possible,” he said.