News in brief:
-Â Nigeria’s military warns of severe food insecurity in the north due to terrorist activities disrupting farming, including levies on farmers.
– A military report highlights the potential socio-economic consequences if these actions continue unchecked, aligning with projections of 26.5 million Nigerians facing high food insecurity in 2024.
Nigeria’s military high command has issued a stark warning about the potential for severe food insecurity in the north which it attributed in part to terrorist activities aimed at disrupting farming.
According to a December 2023 military report, terrorists are attempting to impede agricultural production through tactics such as imposing levies on farmers before allowing them access to their land. The report suggests that if left unchecked, these actions could have drastic consequences for the region’s socio-economic stability.
Furthermore, it emphasises that troops observed that the terrorists’ efforts to disrupt farming activities could result in food insecurity which would negatively impact socio-economic activities in the areas.
This warning aligns with alarming projections from the Cadre Harmonisé, a food and nutrition analysis initiative. It predicts that a staggering 26.5 million Nigerians will face high levels of food insecurity in 2024, a significant increase from the 18.6 million already vulnerable in late 2023.
The gravity of the situation is further underscored by President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023.
Security expert Oladele Fajana agrees with the assessment, emphasising the crucial role of farmer security in addressing the issue. He posits that one of the most effective ways to achieve [food security] is to give adequate security to the farmers.
Meantime, the military report indicates that measures are being taken to counteract the terrorists’ tactics and support humanitarian efforts. However, the future of food security in Nigeria hinges on effectively combating these threats and ensuring the safety of its farmers.
