The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the worsening hunger crisis in northern Nigeria, describing the situation as avoidable and attributing it to poor leadership and persistent insecurity.

In a statement titled “UN’s Warning on Northern Nigeria’s Food Crisis” posted on his X account on Saturday, Obi reacted to the latest warning by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which said northern Nigeria is facing its worst food crisis in nearly a decade.

He said it was troubling that the northern region, widely regarded as Nigeria’s food basket because of its vast agricultural potential, is now grappling with widespread food insecurity.

According to Obi, the UN report indicated that more than 17 million people across nine northern states are experiencing crisis-level hunger, while over 35 million Nigerians nationwide are at risk of food insecurity during the current lean season.

He also cited the report’s finding that more than 10,000 residents of Borno State have entered what the WFP classified as “catastrophic” hunger conditions, describing the development as a national tragedy.

“I am deeply troubled by the latest report from the UN’s World Food Programme, indicating that northern Nigeria is experiencing its most severe hunger crisis in nearly a decade. Over 17 million people in nine northern states face crisis-level hunger, with more than 35 million Nigerians nationwide at risk during this challenging season.

“The fact that over 10,000 residents of Borno State have entered ‘catastrophic’ hunger conditions represents not only immense human suffering but also a profound national failure.

“Nigeria should not rank among the world’s hungriest nations, given its abundant resources, particularly the vast stretches of fertile, uncultivated land in the North,” Obi said.

The former governor of Anambra State attributed the worsening food crisis largely to insecurity across the region, noting that attacks by bandits and insurgents have prevented many farmers from accessing their farmlands and displaced entire farming communities.

According to him, the continued violence has significantly reduced agricultural production, undermined livelihoods, and worsened food shortages in a region that should ordinarily be driving the country’s food supply.

Obi urged the Federal Government and state governments to take urgent steps to address the crisis by restoring security in farming communities and creating safe agricultural corridors that would enable farmers to return to their fields.

He also called for increased support for smallholder farmers through improved access to financing, farm inputs and extension services, while urging authorities to strengthen collaboration with the World Food Programme and other humanitarian agencies to bridge critical funding gaps and prevent the humanitarian situation from worsening.

Obi maintained that with the country’s vast arable land and human resources, Nigeria has the capacity to achieve food security if governments at all levels prioritise agriculture, security and effective leadership.