WFD 2022: Nigerian Government urged to improve food security
By Salihu Ali, Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission NHRC has called on the Nigerian Government to improve on food security.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu SAN made call in Abuja as Nigeria joins the global community to celebrate the World Food Day (WFD) which is celebrated on October 16th every year.
Mr. Ojukwu expressed concern over the rising food crisis being experienced across the country, associated to insecurity and flood in some parts of the county.
The Human Rights Boss lamented that it has become increasingly difficult for many citizens to make a decent living due to poor access to balanced diet, occasioned by escalating food prices resulting from insecurity and climate change.
“You will agree with me that Nigeria is undergoing severe food crisis fueled by climate change and insecurity in all parts of the country coupled with the current the Russia – Ukraine war that has affected importation of food items across the globe”.
He noted that, 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.
Mr. Ojukwu observed that the current food crisis is mostly affecting the less privileged Nigerians especially the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
“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 explained that, the Commission has been partnering with relevant UN bodies such as UNDP, UNHCR as well as the European Union to carry out series of intervention programmes targeted towards providing humanitarian support to the vulnerable population, particularly in the North-East which is suffering the devastating effects of insurgency.
Ojukwu noted that this year’s theme “leave no one behind” is very apt, calling on government and relevant stakeholders to up the efforts at ensuring adequate provision of food to every member of the human family without discrimination.
He urged government at all levels to stem insecurity to the barest minimum, prepare for climate change by strictly adhering to early warning signals to mitigate its effect on farmlands, as well as support and encourage farmers to migrate to mechanised farming to achieve bumper harvests and abundant food for all.
