Former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s most hunger-stricken countries, describing it as “regrettable and unacceptable.”
Speaking at the Food Systems Changemakers’ Conference 2025 in Abuja, Obi said the country has no justification for food insecurity given its abundant arable land and youthful population.
Obi lamented that despite Nigeria’s agricultural potential, millions of citizens still struggle to afford a healthy meal.
“Food is a critical component of our existence, and for Nigeria to be among the hungriest countries of the world while we have all the resources is very regrettable,” he said.
“We can’t talk about national development if our people cannot eat well or live healthily.”
He urged for renewed innovation and investment in agribusiness, stressing that agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economic sustainability.
“Nigeria must innovate to sustain its food systems. We have vast uncultivated land and millions of energetic youths who can be empowered to change things,” Obi added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with agriculture identified as a key driver.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, said the government is reviewing the National Development Plan to prioritize agriculture in the 2026–2030 framework.
According to Bagudu, President Bola Tinubu has tasked economic planners to make the $1 trillion vision inclusive and agriculture-led.
“Food systems are one of the major drivers of that growth,” he noted, emphasizing that the private sector must play a leading role in agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of ONE Campaign, Ndidi Nwuneli, highlighted innovation as a game-changer for food security.
She said entrepreneurs and changemakers must drive creativity and technology in agriculture to ensure that “every Nigerian child has access to nutritious, affordable, and accessible food.”
The conference gathered policymakers, private sector leaders, and innovators to chart a path toward a food-secure Nigeria.