ABUJA: As Nigeria grapples with mounting food insecurity, a Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) report warns that up to 26.5 million Nigerians could face hunger by 2024.
The root cause, according to experts, lies in the persistent challenges of insurgency and banditry in northern Nigeria, where ongoing security issues have significantly hampered food production. The FAO highlights the urgent need for the government to address these concerns promptly.
CGTN’s Ajeck Mangut reports:
WATCH: Nigeria’s food security threatened
In a recent interview, Abuja resident Muhammadu Abubakar sheds light on the grim reality many Nigerians face. As a driver, he struggles to provide regular meals for his family, often eating only once a day.
Abubakar emphasises, “We eat once a day. There are times we go two days without food. My job doesn’t pay enough for regular meals.”
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Hunger levels to increase
The FAO predicts that people experiencing food insecurity will rise from 25 million this year to over 26 million in 2024. High inflation, coupled with insecurity in the Northern regions, has forced farmers to abandon their lands, severely impacting food production.
Emmanuel Osemeka, Country Director of the Social Welfare Network Initiative, emphasises the critical role of the Northern regions in Nigeria’s food production. “The North Central produces more than 80% of the food in Nigeria. These are the food baskets of Nigeria.”
Experts argue that the government’s efforts to ensure the safety of farmers are insufficient. Many farmers have fled their communities, and their return is crucial to enhancing food production and affordability for the population.
Osemeka insists, “To solve this issue, farmers need to return to the farm, and agri-businesses must resume operations. This can only happen when the government addresses security challenges.”
The Nigerian government has deployed over 10,000 personnel, known as Agro Rangers, from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to protect farmers against attacks.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reveals plans to cultivate wheat on 70,000 hectares starting this November during the upcoming dry season.
Additional crops like rice and maize will follow, aiming to improve Nigeria’s food production and make it more affordable for families affected by the increasing threat of hunger.
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