Hunger Worsened By Food Crisis In Nigeria, Says NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern over Nigeria's escalating food crisis.

It was stated the food crisis has made it harder for vulnerable groups, such as internally displaced people, to access healthy and nourishing food, which had increased widespread hunger and poor quality of life.

Several circumstances, including "insecurity chasing farmers from their fields, along with several farmlands covered in water due to flooding in some sections of the county," were blamed by the commission for the situation.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) made the statement in Abuja as Nigeria joins the world community to observe World Food Day, which is observed on October 16, according to a statement by the NHRC Deputy Director (Public Affairs and External Linkages), Fatimah Agwai Mohammed.

“The situation which is partly associated with climate change has worsened access to healthy and nutritious food, leading to an increase in widespread hunger and low quality of life and wellbeing of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable group,” he said.

Ojukwu highlighted the fact that many people were finding it harder and harder to make ends meet due to limited access to a healthy diet, which was brought on by rising food prices brought on by climate change and insecurity.

“You will agree with me that Nigeria is undergoing a severe food crisis fueled by climate change and insecurity in all parts of the country coupled with the current Russia–Ukraine war that has affected the importation of food items across the globe.

“With the current reality of rising prices of food items, many Nigerians may plunge deeper into poverty if proper measures are not put in place,” Ojukwu stated.

He said that the current food crisis primarily affected less fortunate Nigerians, particularly Internally Displaced Persons.

“I must tell you that the IDPs are worst hit by the food crisis, our report of monitoring the human rights and humanitarian situation of IDPs in the North-East has since 2015, indicated that this population of concern suffer acute food and nutrition shortage and are seriously in need of assistance,” he said.

The NHRC CEO took advantage of the opportunity to announce that the commission has been working in collaboration with relevant UN agencies like UNDP, UNHCR, and the European Union to implement several intervention programmes intended to provide humanitarian support to the vulnerable population, particularly in the North-East that is experiencing the devastating effects of insurgency.

He argued that the year's theme, "Leave no one behind," is highly appropriate and that the government and other key players should step up their efforts to ensure that everyone in the human family has access to enough food without prejudice.

He counselled all levels of government to minimize insecurity, and prepare for climate change by closely observing early warning signals to lessen its impact on farmlands, as well as aiding and encouraging farmers to switch to mechanized farming in order to produce bumper crops and an abundance of food for everyone.

“Everyone deserves the right to enjoy adequate food and nutrition for survival, right to food is right to life, therefore all hands must be on deck to build a sustainable society where everyone has regular access to enough nutritional food, no one should be left behind,” Ojukwu said.