An expert in food security and university don, Professor Rasaki Ojo Bakare, has called for decisive measures to address the escalating food crisis in Nigeria.
Bakare warned that without immediate intervention, millions more could face hunger and food insecurity in Nigeria.
While delivering the annual lecture of Ebony Herald Magazine in Abuja with the theme, “Insecurity and Food Security in Nigeria: Strategies to the Rescue,” he underscored the grave implications of insecurity on the nation’s food supply, a critical concern as food inflation and hunger spiral out of control.
According to him, over 18.6 million Nigerians are currently facing acute hunger, while millions more are adopting extreme survival measures in response to the relentless rise in food prices.
“The soaring inflation is not just about numbers; it’s a threat to human survival,” he warned.
He further explained that the economic instability, driven by unemployment and poverty, has made nutritious food a luxury for many Nigerians, particularly in urban areas. With households struggling to meet even their basic needs, the food crisis has become a national emergency.
Bakare pointed out that insecurity and conflicts, such as the Boko Haram insurgency and farmer-herder clashes, are further worsening the food crisis by disrupting agricultural production.
“Farmers are afraid to go to their farms, and this directly affects food production,” he said.
The professor called for immediate government intervention, including stabilising food prices, improving access to credit for small-scale farmers, and investing in agricultural infrastructure.
On security, the guest lecturer painted a stark picture of how violence, banditry, and terrorism have crippled agricultural production, particularly in the most vulnerable regions.
According to him, insecurity is the root of Nigeria’s food crisis, as millions of displaced farmers are unable to return to their farmlands, leaving vast swathes of arable land uncultivated.
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