The Nation Newspaper Nigerians mark World Food Day amidst hunger
‘ exactly on Monday, October 16th, 2023. While events were lined up in commemoration of the unique day, Mr. Okey Iwoh and his family of seven went to bed on an empty stomach.
For the benefits of those who do not know the implication of world food day, especially the 9 years old Ife Opemipo who was asking me if it is a day set aside for people to “eat chicken, pizza, ice cream and sweets as much as they want”, World food Day is an international day, celebrated every year on October 16th to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945.
This is a projected increase from the estimated 17 million people currently at risk of food insecurity as at last year. Continued conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices are key drivers of this alarming trend. Food access has been affected by persistent violence in the north-east states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe and armed banditry and kidnapping in states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue and Niger.
UNICEF, working with the government and partners such as MSF and ALIMA, is investing in scaling up preventive nutrition interventions, while ensuring that vulnerable children have access to life-saving nutrition services. In 2022, UNICEF with partners was able to reach approximately 650,000 children with life-saving nutrition services across the six states mentioned above.
To this effect the Tinubu led Government declared state of emergency to tackle rising food prices and shortages. Some of the initiatives include using money saved by the recent removal of fuel subsidy to provide fertilizer and grains to farmers. Immediate action is essential to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians in securing an adequate food supply. It is notable that the declaration of a state of emergency on food security includes the recognition of food and water availability and affordability within the purview of the National Security Council. This underscores the importance of considering these essential livelihood items as crucial components of national stability and well-being.
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