The Peter Obi Movement, representing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, has issued a stark warning about the looming threat of hunger and famine in Nigeria if farmers continue to be denied access to their farms by bandits and terrorists.
Responding to alarming publications and warnings from international agencies, the movement emphasized the critical need to address the issue.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, spokesman for the Peter Obi Movement, expressed grave concern, stating, “I have consistently raised alarms about the growing food crisis in Nigeria, which tragically continues to claim lives of our fellow citizens. The urgency to address these issues cannot be overstated.”
Citing recent reports, Tanko highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “The number of food-insecure Nigerians has significantly increased, with millions facing acute hunger and resorting to crisis-level coping strategies.”
Tanko emphasized that the situation is even worse than reported, with many Nigerians losing their lives in the quest for food, reflecting a dire level of hunger not adequately captured in the media.
“Insecurity, particularly attacks on farmers by bandits and terrorists, has led to the abandonment of farms,” Tanko lamented. “Farmers are paying exorbitant sums in ransom to gain access to their farmlands, with many lives lost to insecurity.”
Urging immediate government intervention to address insecurity, Tanko emphasized the necessity of ensuring farmers’ safety to mitigate the food crisis.
“The government must urgently tackle insecurity to facilitate the safe return of farmers to their lands,” Tanko asserted. “Only then can we avert a hunger crisis and realize the vision of a new, hunger-free Nigeria.”
