The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Sunday raised concern over the rising food prices in the country, saying it had worsened access to healthy and nutritious food, especially among Internally Displaced Persons and vulnerable groups, leading to an increase in widespread hunger and low quality of life.
The commission attributed the scenario to several factors, including “the insecurity chasing farmers from their farms, coupled with many submerged farmlands due to flooding in some parts of the county.”
The commission’s Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN), according to a statement by the NHRC Deputy Director (Public Affairs and External Linkages), Fatimah Mohammed, stated this in Abuja as Nigeria joins the global community to celebrate World Food Day, which is celebrated on October 16 every year.
The statement read in part, “The situation, which is partly associated with climate change, has worsened access to healthy and nutritious food, leading to an increase in widespread hunger and low quality of life and wellbeing of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable group.”
“You will agree with me that Nigeria is undergoing a severe food crisis fuelled by climate change and insecurity in all parts of the country coupled with the current Russia – Ukraine war that has affected the importation of food items across the globe.
“With the current reality of rising prices of food items, many Nigerians may plunge deeper into poverty if proper measures are not put in place.”
According to him, the current food crisis is mostly affecting the less privileged, especially the IDPs.
