Opposition party cites a UN World Food Programme assessment showing more than 17 million Nigerians facing acute food insecurity in conflict-affected northern states

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to tackle Nigeria’s worsening food insecurity, citing a recent World Food Programme (WFP) assessment that said more than 17 million Nigerians in nine conflict-affected northern states are facing acute hunger.

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In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the growing hunger crisis was the result of insecurity, declining agricultural production and economic policies that had increased the cost of living for ordinary Nigerians.

“The ADC has received with profound concern the latest assessment by the United Nations World Food Programme, which confirms that Nigeria is now facing one of its worst food security emergencies in almost a decade,” Abdullahi said.

According to the party, the WFP assessment showed that millions of people were experiencing crisis, emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity, with the situation particularly severe in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Abdullahi argued that the crisis was not simply the result of natural factors but reflected failures in security and agricultural policy.

“The WFP also identifies the principal causes of this unfolding tragedy: expanding insecurity, attacks on farming communities, mass displacement, restricted humanitarian access and declining support for vulnerable populations,” he said.

The opposition party further criticised what it described as the government’s response to rising food prices and economic hardship, saying many families were struggling to afford basic meals.

“For three years, the Tinubu government has repeatedly told Nigerians that the pain we are experiencing is temporary. The WFP has now confirmed what Nigerians have been saying all along: insecurity is spreading, agricultural production is declining, food inflation is worsening and millions of Nigerians are being pushed deeper into hunger,” Abdullahi added.

The ADC said it believed the food crisis required a coordinated national strategy rather than short-term interventions. The party outlined proposals that it said would form part of its agricultural and food-security agenda, including greater support for smallholder farmers, investment in irrigation infrastructure and expansion of storage and cold-chain facilities.

An ADC government, Abdullahi said, would place food security at the centre of national security planning and seek closer coordination among federal, state and local authorities.

The party also proposed the rehabilitation of abandoned dams to support year-round irrigation and reduce dependence on seasonal rainfall, while expanding strategic grain reserves to help stabilise food prices during periods of economic stress.

The Federal Government has repeatedly defended its economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation, arguing that they are necessary to stabilise the economy and attract investment.

Government officials have also said agricultural support programmes and security operations are being intensified to improve food production in affected regions.

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The latest exchange highlights the growing political debate over inflation, food prices and living conditions as concerns about hunger continue to dominate public discussion across the country.