National Democratic Party (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern over the worsening food insecurity in Northern Nigeria, describing the growing humanitarian crisis as “a profound national failure.”

Obi’s comments come in response to a recent warning by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), which said escalating insecurity, displacement and declining international humanitarian funding have pushed millions of people across Northern Nigeria into severe hunger, marking the region’s worst food crisis in nearly a decade.

According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis, more than 17 million people across nine conflict-affected northern states are currently experiencing crisis, emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Humanitarian agencies also estimate that more than 35 million Nigerians could face acute hunger during the current lean season.

Borno State remains one of the worst-hit areas, with aid organisations reporting that over 10,000 residents have fallen into catastrophic hunger conditions following sustained insurgent attacks and reductions in humanitarian food assistance.

Reacting in a statement, Obi said the situation reflects a failure of governance despite Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential.

“The fact that over 10,000 residents of Borno State have entered catastrophic hunger conditions represents not only immense human suffering but also a profound national failure,” he said.

“Nigeria should not rank among the world’s hungriest nations, considering our enormous agricultural resources, especially the vast stretches of fertile land across the North.”

Obi blamed the worsening crisis on persistent insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping and insurgency, which he said have forced thousands of farming families off their land and disrupted agricultural production across the region.

He also questioned the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s food security initiatives, arguing that despite the declaration of a state of emergency on food security and investments in agricultural mechanisation, many farming communities have seen little improvement.

According to Obi, the country’s declining position on global hunger rankings underscores the need for more effective and transparent policies to address food insecurity.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has appealed for $89 million in emergency funding over the next six months to sustain food assistance, nutrition programmes and humanitarian logistics across Northern Nigeria. The agency warned that without urgent financial support, millions of vulnerable households could face even greater hardship.

Obi called on both the Federal Government and state governments to move beyond political rhetoric and implement practical measures to address the crisis. He urged authorities to improve security in farming communities, establish safe agricultural transport corridors, provide subsidised farming inputs to smallholder farmers and support humanitarian efforts aimed at preventing further deterioration of food security in the region.

He stressed that ensuring farmers can safely return to their fields remains critical to restoring food production and preventing a deeper humanitarian emergency.