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ATIKU REACTS TO BBC REPORT ON HUNGER CRISIS IN NIGERIA, SAYS PALLIATIVES NOT SOLUTION
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to a damning report highlighting the hunger crisis in Nigeria.
The report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary beamed its focus on Katsina state.
Atiku Abubakar said the hunger crisis showed the economy and citizens of Nigeria cannot survive and be sustained by palliatives from governments.
A BBC documentary on Hunger Crisis in Katsina, by Madina Maishanu, x-rayed the extreme condition of women and children due to hunger occasioned by banditry and high food inflation.
According to the report, the women, their husbands and children were farmers who could not access their farms due to activities of banditry. The families also lack money to buy food due to high cost of food prices.
Affected by malnourishment, most of the children were admitted to Medicine Sans frontiers facilities in the state for succour.
Reacting to the report on Wednesday, Atiku said the BBC documentary aligned with a report from World Food Programme that about 4.4 million Nigerians are suffering extreme hunger.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said, “I am profoundly disheartened by the escalating hunger crisis engulfing millions of Nigerian children, a number that has now swelled to approximately 4.4 million, as reported by the World Food Programme (WFP).
“Madina Maishanu’s recent BBC report paints a harrowing picture of the plight faced by families in Katsina state. Her courageous journalism illuminates the harsh realities endured by our most vulnerable communities.
“Our national and state governments must act decisively to address the cause of this crisis. Short-term measures, such as grain procurement, are mere band-aids and fall woefully short of the comprehensive action needed.”
He called for a more holistic and sustainable approach is crucial to address the hunger crisis in the country. He advised urgent tackling of insecurity and banditry affecting farmers from accessing their farms.
“A more holistic and sustainable approach is crucial, including bolstering security measures to ensure safe access to food. The government must prioritize long-term strategies to curb food inflation, enhance security, and stabilize the forex rate, thereby safeguarding food security for all Nigerians.
“In particular, the government of Katsina State must heed expert advice, invest in agricultural development, support our farmers, and implement measures to prevent further displacement of communities.“It is also vital to collaborate with humanitarian organizations and the international community to mitigate the impact of this crisis and work towards a brighter, more secure future for all Nigerians,” Atiku added.
