Peter Obi Hunger Crisis speech calls out Nigeria’s failure to tackle food insecurity despite vast resources and a youthful population
Peter Obi Hunger Crisis comments have reignited national debate over food insecurity as the former Labour Party presidential candidate condemned Nigeria’s worsening hunger levels despite its abundant resources.
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Speaking at the Sahel Food Systems Changemakers Conference in Abuja on Thursday, Obi lamented that the country had “no justification” for ranking among the world’s hungriest nations.
“You can’t talk about anything if your people cannot have a healthy meal,” he said, calling the situation “very regrettable.”
The event, organised by Sahel Consulting under the theme “Designing for Legacy: Building Impact-Driven Food Systems,” brought together policymakers, business leaders, and development experts to address the deepening crisis.
Obi argued that Nigeria’s fertile land and vibrant youth population should make the nation self-sufficient in food production.
Comparing Nigeria’s performance to Bangladesh, he noted that the smaller Asian country produces over 50 million tonnes of rice annually, while Nigeria struggles to meet domestic demand.
“With the vast land in the North, we can feed ourselves,” he said, stressing that agriculture could easily surpass oil as a major revenue source if properly prioritised. “We can make more money from agriculture than from oil any day, any time,” he declared.
Ndidi Nwuneli, Chief Executive Officer of the ONE Campaign, echoed Obi’s concerns, warning that hunger in Nigeria is worsening at an alarming rate.
“People are down to one-zero-one in many parts of Nigeria,” she said, referring to a growing trend where citizens skip meals due to soaring food prices.
Nwuneli described Nigeria’s fall in life expectancy from 57 to 54 years as “shocking,” attributing the decline to weak food systems and poor coordination across sectors. “When this country can feed Africa and the world, what is holding us back?” she asked.
Temitope Adegoroye, Managing Partner at Sahel Consulting, said sustainability must become central to agricultural policy.
“Too often, sustainability is treated as an exit strategy. It must be the starting point — a lens through which we design every programme, policy, and partnership,” he emphasised.
According to the World Food Programme, 30.6 million Nigerians are now acutely food insecure, driven by conflict, inflation, and climate impacts. The Global Hunger Index 2025 ranks Nigeria 115th out of 123 countries.
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The Peter Obi Hunger Crisis debate has since resonated widely, with many Nigerians calling for urgent reforms to ensure the nation’s food security and restore dignity to millions struggling to survive.
