9.2m Nigerians face food insecurity in 16 states, FCT – UN

THE UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Representative in Nigeria, Fred Kafeero, has said the current food system in Nigeria needs re-evaluation noting that an estimated 9.2 million Nigerians from 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory face food insecurity.

Kafeero spoke during a webinar organised by the Federal Government and United Nations for journalists on ‘Nigeria national food systems dialogue’ on Tuesday.

The programme was organised to facilitate series of dialogues across the country on how to ensure resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems in Nigeria by 2030.

“As of October 2020, an estimated 9.2 million Nigerians from 16 states and the FCT were food insecure,” he said, adding that the food security situation would likely worsen in 2021 due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking on the way forward, Kafeero recommended collective and concerted efforts on the part of the government, food producers and processors, traders, donors and other partners in evaluating current food system and making it improved and sustainable.

Meanwhile, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins stressed that most Nigerians do not have access to safe and nutritious food adding that the minimally acceptable diet in Nigeria remained poor.

Hawkins said Nigerians should embrace a food system preventing all forms of malnutrition.

He highlighted important steps to take as subsidies for healthy and sustainable foods and taxes on unhealthy foods, nutrition education in schools, social behaviour changes campaigns and others.

In his presentation on boosting nature-positive production, the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative, Mohamed Yahya, said the country was facing unprecedented constraints in food production, severely impacting the environment.

The representative of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Musibau Azeez, said good food systems resulted in developed food industries, expansion of off-farm employment opportunities, widening of food choices, among others.

The UN Resident Coordinator, Edward Kallon, noted that the UN and the FG were bringing together key players for the summit to hold in September, which he said would launch new actions to transform the way the world produced and consumed food.

He emphasised the importance of sustainable food systems, to not only end hunger but also help future generations have access to adequate food and proper nutrition.