As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Food Day 2025, ActionAid Nigeria has called for renewed commitment to ending hunger and building a more resilient and inclusive food system.
Speaking at a media dialogue in Abuja on Wednesday, ActionAid Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, emphasized the need for coordinated national action to ensure food security for all Nigerians, particularly those in rural and conflict-affected communities.
Mamedu cited a recent FAO report showing that 30.6 million Nigerians across 26 states and the FCT could face food insecurity during the 2025 lean season — a slight improvement from the 33.1 million projected in 2024.
“This shows progress is possible. But we must accelerate interventions to reach the millions still at risk of hunger and malnutrition,” he said.
The ActionAid boss noted that persistent insecurity continued to disrupt farming activities in states such as Benue, Kaduna, Kwara, Taraba, Cross River, and Niger, reducing the production of key staples and threatening local livelihoods.
“In Benue alone, the destruction of farmlands and displacement of farmers have severely affected major crops like yam, maize, and rice,” he added.
Referencing World Bank data, Mamedu said more than 139 million Nigerians still live below the poverty line, with rural communities bearing the greatest burden of inequality and limited food access.
“To truly fight hunger, we must first fight poverty — deliberately, compassionately, and sustainably,” he said.
Mamedu called for the convening of a National Poverty Summit to align fragmented efforts into a unified National Action Plan for Food Security and Poverty Eradication.
He further urged increased investment in agriculture, especially in climate-resilient and smallholder-friendly practices, to boost productivity and improve food access.
“It’s time for states to match words with action,” he said, noting that many states were releasing only about 25 per cent of their allocated agricultural budgets despite worsening food insecurity.
He also called on the National Assembly to strengthen oversight and ensure timely, transparent disbursement of agricultural funds, especially to farmers in hard-to-reach communities.
Mamedu said this year’s World Food Day theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” was a powerful reminder that food security is a shared responsibility.
“Government, civil society, the private sector, and citizens must work hand in hand — not just to feed the nation today, but to build a more just and food-secure tomorrow,” he added.
