Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to declare hunger a national emergency amid growing concerns over food insecurity and rising living costs.
Obi made the call on Friday, October 16, while marking the 2026 World Food Day, warning that millions of Nigerians continue to struggle to afford food.
He expressed concern over Nigeria’s position on the global hunger ranking, stating that the country moved from 109th out of 125 countries in 2023 to 117th position.
The former governor also cited estimates indicating that about 36 million Nigerians could face acute hunger in 2026.
Obi attributed the situation partly to insecurity, which has prevented many farmers from accessing their farmlands and affected food production in several communities.
He also lamented that Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential remained underutilised despite the country’s capacity to produce enough food for its population.
According to him, addressing hunger requires urgent government action, improved security in farming communities and increased support for farmers.
Obi said an NDC-led government would provide targeted grants, subsidies and other forms of assistance to farmers while ensuring they could return safely to their farms.
He stressed that Nigerians deserve a country where families can afford food, farmers can work without fear and poverty is tackled with urgency.
The former governor urged the government to treat hunger as a national emergency rather than an ordinary economic challenge.
His remarks come amid continued concerns over food affordability and the impact of insecurity on agricultural production across the country.
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