Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has expressed grave concerns about the deepening food crisis in Nigeria, describing hunger as a “household crisis” affecting numerous families across the nation. His statement came in a post commemorating World Food Day, where he lamented the rising prices of essential food items, now unaffordable for many Nigerians.

“The food crisis in Nigeria is disheartening,” Obi remarked. “Severe hunger has now become an unfortunate member of many households in Nigeria—the once giant of Africa, a nation with the most arable land on the continent.”

Obi, who ran as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, highlighted Nigeria’s fall in food security rankings, pointing out that the country is now listed among the 20 most food-insecure nations globally. He expressed particular concern over the World Bank’s comparison of Nigeria’s situation to war-torn countries like Yemen.

“Food prices are soaring, food inflation is rising, and the crisis is worsening daily,” Obi said. “Hunger has escalated into a national emergency.”

Obi called for a shift in Nigeria’s economic focus from consumption to production, citing the country’s untapped agricultural potential. “A state like Niger, which is twice the size of the Netherlands, is unable to feed itself or the nation, while the Netherlands exports over $100 billion worth of agricultural products annually,” he noted.

He emphasized that improving security and investing in modern agricultural methods are crucial to addressing the food crisis. Obi concluded by reiterating his vision for a “productive nation, free from hunger, with an abundant food supply” as a foundation for a more prosperous Nigeria.