Nigeria Has No Reason to Be Hungry, Peter Obi Slams Tinubu’s Food Strategy

Nigeria is sliding deeper into food insecurity, with presidential candidate Peter Obi slamming President Bola Tinubu's food strategy. Obi argued that the country has no justification for its worsening hunger levels despite vast agricultural potential.

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Despite Three Years of Tinubu’s Food Emergency, Nigeria hungriest ranking index declined to among the worst nations globally.

Obi's remarks followed a United Nations warning that approximately 35 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger between June and August. The UN Humanitarian Country Team indicated that nearly one in seven Nigerians could face severe food insecurity during the lean season, with the northern region expected to be most affected. The UN also cautioned that delayed interventions could force families to reduce meals, sell assets, or pull children from school.

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Nigeria’s hunger index ranking was 103rd out of 123 countries surveyed in 2022/2023, and this figure had since worsened to 115th out of 123 countries surveyed in 2025/2026.

Criticizing the government's performance, Obi pointed to Nigeria's declining global hunger index ranking. He stated that Nigeria's hunger index ranking worsened to 115th out of 123 countries surveyed in 2025/2026, from 103rd out of 123 in 2022/2023. He questioned the effectiveness of government interventions, including a declared food security emergency and a mechanization program, arguing that these have not improved outcomes.

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The World Bank forecasts that 33 million Nigerians could experience severe hunger.

"Nigeria has the highest number of hungry people in the world," Obi asserted, emphasizing the nation's agricultural endowment, particularly uncultivated land in the north. He called for transparent investment in agricultural production as a means to guarantee food security and reduce unemployment.

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In fact, Nigeria has the highest number of hungry people in the world. I have always maintained that Nigeria have no reason to be seen among the hungriest nations in the world when we have fast, uncultivated land in the north, which is our greatest asset today.