Food security expert Reginald Ekeanyanwu has issued a stark warning about the escalating hunger crisis in Nigeria, cautioning that the nation’s increasing hunger levels could lead to a revolution if not addressed. In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ekeanyanwu emphasized the urgent need to tackle food security and the root causes of hunger, linking the crisis directly to the country’s ongoing insecurity issues.
“When hunger becomes the daily norm, there’s a problem, and that is exactly what is driving our insecurity issues,” Ekeanyanwu stated. He criticized the government’s management of agricultural resources and the lack of support for farmers, recounting incidents such as a farmer’s killing in Benue State, which has left many farmers too afraid to work their fields. “Farmers are no longer going to their farms; they are farming within their communities,” he noted.
Ekeanyanwu argued for the mechanization of agriculture to boost productivity and employment, suggesting that agriculture could absorb the unemployed youth in Nigeria. He stressed the importance of modernizing farming practices and providing adequate tools and technology to farmers, criticizing the misallocation of government funds to non-farmers and advocating for direct support in the form of agricultural implements.
He also called for the commercialization of agriculture at the local government level, urging the use of federal funds to develop large-scale farming operations that could create jobs and increase food production. Ekeanyanwu warned about cartels obstructing government interventions and highlighted the need for transparency and accountability.
On the issue of food imports and genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Ekeanyanwu expressed a preference for traditional farming methods and seeds, arguing, “There’s no reason for us to modify food when what we have had served us over the years.” He advocated for the use of natural seeds that have historically supported Nigerian agriculture.
Ekeanyanwu concluded by stressing the urgency of addressing the hunger crisis to prevent social upheaval. “If the government is not ready to do the right thing, the general public must participate and partner with the farmers,” he said, calling for collective action to ensure food security and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.
