Former presidential candidate Peter Obi says a hunger crisis in northern Nigeria is worsening and is preventable. Citing a United Nations warning referenced through the World Food Programme (WFP), Obi reacts to what he describes as the severity of the situation during the lean season. Multiple outlets report that Obi’s statement highlights that more than 17 million people across nine northern states are experiencing “crisis-level” hunger, with more than 35 million Nigerians nationwide facing acute food insecurity risks. He also draws attention to conditions in Borno State, where over 10,000 residents are described as being in “catastrophic” hunger conditions.
Obi attributes the crisis to insecurity and what he calls failures of leadership. He argues that conflict, banditry, and insurgency disrupt farming by displacing communities and restricting access to farmland, especially in agricultural areas that traditionally supply food to the country. He urges federal and state governments to act urgently, including prioritizing security for farming communities, increasing support for smallholder farmers, and working more closely with international partners such as the WFP to address funding gaps.
