Peter Obi accompanied by Mrs. Aisha Yusufu, Dele Farotimi, and Dr. Moses Paul, and others at the Ibadan headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the organization whose duty it is to engage in agricultural research. | Image: @PeterObi
.Says it’s a big threat to the nation
‘In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria ranked 109th out of the 125 countries measured, showing a serious hunger level in the nation’
By Valentine Amanze
The Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised alarm over the rising food insecurity in Nigeria, stressing that it remains a big threat to the nation.
Obi also called on the government to reverse the trend by prioritising eradication of hunger and food inflation.
Obi pointed out that the worsening inflation in the country was occasioned by the abandonment of agriculture, which resulted in food insecurity.
The LP standard bearer made the remarks in Ibadan when he visited the headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the organization that engages in agricultural research for the development of sustainable and innovative farming practices aimed at solving the problem of hunger and poverty in the nation.
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He expressed his appreciation to the management and staff of IITA for what he described as their very significant contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural sector, especially in ensuring higher agricultural productivity.
He however advised them to do more by working more closely with local farmers and agricultural stakeholders to enhance farming and agricultural productivity.
“This,” Obi said, “will help IITA to ensure that its research outcomes and innovations are effectively disseminated and adopted, leading to tangible improvements in the agricultural sector.”
Obi maintained that agriculture remains a very critical sector in Nigeria’s economy and should not be neglected.
“Our obvious neglect of agriculture is the cause of hunger and food insecurity, resulting in the high food inflation rate we have today.
“Lack of investment in agriculture has resulted in the high level of hunger and poverty in the country today.
“In the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria ranked 109th out of the 125 countries measured, showing a serious hunger level in the nation.
“Our food inflation rate is currently at 33%, signifying that more concerted efforts need to be made in moving our nation from consumption to production, in the agricultural sector,” he said.
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