The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of worsening Nigeria’s food security crisis, following a report by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) indicating that more than 17 million Nigerians are experiencing acute hunger.
The opposition party described the situation as a major humanitarian emergency, alleging that government policies, persistent insecurity, and the rising cost of living have pushed millions of Nigerians into severe food insecurity.
Speaking in a statement on behalf of the party, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the latest findings by the WFP reflected the difficult realities confronting millions of Nigerians, particularly in conflict-affected states across the North.
According to the WFP assessment, over 17 million people across nine conflict-affected northern states are currently facing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. The report noted that the figure represents an increase of nearly two million people compared to earlier projections.
The humanitarian agency further stated that Borno State accounts for more than three million food-insecure persons, while the combined number of affected residents in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states has risen to approximately 6.2 million.
Reacting to the report, the ADC said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for the Federal Government to urgently tackle insecurity, revive agricultural production, and implement policies that make food more affordable.
”The hunger confronting millions of Nigerians today is not a natural disaster but the consequence of policy failures, widespread insecurity, and the inability of government to protect farming communities,” the party stated.
The ADC also argued that continued attacks by bandits and insurgents have displaced thousands of farmers, reducing agricultural output and contributing to rising food prices across the country.
The opposition party maintained that the government’s economic reforms, including subsidy removal and foreign exchange adjustments, have significantly increased the cost of transportation, food production, and household expenses, thereby worsening living conditions for many families.
For several months, food inflation has remained one of Nigeria’s biggest economic challenges, with prices of staple foods such as rice, maize, beans, yam, and vegetables rising sharply across major markets.
The party urged the Federal Government to adopt urgent measures aimed at restoring security in farming communities, supporting local food production, strengthening social intervention programmes, and addressing inflation to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.
The WFP has consistently warned that conflict, displacement, climate-related shocks, and economic pressures continue to threaten food security across Nigeria’s North-East and other vulnerable regions.
Food security experts have also stressed that improving agricultural productivity, expanding humanitarian assistance, and restoring peace in affected communities remain critical to reversing the growing hunger crisis.
The Federal Government has repeatedly maintained that ongoing economic reforms are designed to stabilize the economy and deliver long-term benefits despite the short-term hardship experienced by many Nigerians.
Authorities have also continued to implement agricultural support initiatives and social investment programmes aimed at improving food production and cushioning vulnerable households.
As concerns over food insecurity continue to grow, analysts say coordinated efforts involving the Federal Government, state governments, humanitarian organisations, development partners, and the private sector will be essential in addressing the country’s worsening hunger challenge.