Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to declare hunger in Nigeria a national emergency as millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with rising food insecurity.
Obi made the call in a post shared on his X account on Friday to mark the 2026 World Food Day celebration.
He said his visit to rural women farmers during the International Rural Women’s Day celebration convinced him that hunger had become one of the country’s biggest challenges.
According to him, “What became clear to me is that hunger in the country must be declared a national emergency.”
Obi said Nigerians are facing a painful reality where hunger, poverty and insecurity continue to affect millions of families across the country.
He noted that Nigeria now ranks 117th out of 125 countries on the Global Hunger Index, compared to 109th position in 2023 when the current administration assumed office.
He also stated that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that about 36 million Nigerians could face acute hunger this year.
The former Anambra State governor lamented that despite Nigeria’s vast fertile land, about 60 per cent remains uncultivated because many farming communities are affected by insecurity.
According to him, “On World Food Day, the message is clear: Nigerians deserve a country where no family goes to bed hungry, farmers can work without fear, and poverty and insecurity are confronted with urgency and compassion.”
Obi added, “The fight against hunger must be treated as a national emergency.”
He promised that under his leadership, farmers would return safely to their farms and receive targeted grants, subsidies and other forms of support.
He concluded by saying, “Together, we can build a Nigeria where no one goes to bed hungry and every farmer can work in peace and dignity. A New Nigeria is POssible. Nigeria will be OK.”