The alarming report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) highlighting that over 31.8 million Nigerians are facing acute food insecurity calls for immediate government intervention.

Development Diaries reports that according to FAO, millions of Nigerians were already in a precarious situation due to the rise in food item prices brought on by the removal of fuel subsidy and security concerns.

With reference to the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria ranks 109 out of the 125 countries.

This means that Nigeria experiences a severe level of hunger, with a score of 28.3 on the 2023 Global Hunger Index.

Also, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) projected that 26.5 million people across the country will face acute hunger in the June to August 2024 lean season.

It is a consistent cause for concern if the President Bola Tinubu-led administration continues failing to address the underlying problems.

What should be done?

Firstly, the government must prioritise stabilising food prices by implementing policies that support local farmers and increase food production.

Additionally, strengthening the supply chain by subsidising transportation will help bring food prices down.

Furthermore, President Tinubu should address the root causes of food insecurity by tackling security challenges, especially in regions where agricultural activities are severely disrupted.

Enhancing security measures in conflict-prone areas will allow farmers to return to their land and resume food production, thus increasing food supply and reducing reliance on imports.

Development Diaries calls on the Tinubu-led administration to urgently address the escalating food insecurity crisis by implementing targeted measures to alleviate the impact of rising food prices and insecurity on vulnerable Nigerians, particularly women and children.

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