{
  "id": 15327485,
  "title": "Declare Hunger a National Emergency, Obi Tells FG, Raises Alarm over Nigeria’s Worsening Hunger Crisis",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/declare-hunger-a-national-emergency-obi-tells-fg-raises-alarm-over",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T02:03:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/18/declare-hunger-a-national-emergency-obi-tells-fg-raises-alarm-over-nigerias-worsening-hunger-crisis/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has called on the Nigerian government to declare hunger a national emergency, raising alarm over the worsening hunger crisis in the country. Obi made the call on World Food Day, urging Nigerians that no family should go to bed hungry. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), approximately 36 million Nigerians will face acute hunger this year. Obi expressed concern as Nigeria has dropped from 109th to 117th place out of 125 countries in terms of hunger, according to the 2026 Global Hunger Index (GHI). The 2026 GHI ranked Nigeria 117th out of 122 countries, as only 122 had sufficient data for the report. Despite Nigeria's vast arable land with 60% remaining uncultivated, the country's hunger situation remains troubling. Obi emphasized that hunger, poverty, and insecurity continue to affect millions of families, despite Nigeria's agricultural potential. If elected president, Obi pledged to prioritize security and provide farmers with targeted grants, subsidies, and support to boost agricultural production. He also highlighted the crucial role of rural women in food production, calling for urgent action to address hunger as a national emergency.",
  "summary": "Chuks Okocha in Abuja The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has asked the federal government to declare a national emergency on hunger. Obi made",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Anambra Governor Peter Obi urges Nigeria to declare hunger a national emergency.",
    "FAO reports 36 million Nigerians will face acute hunger this year.",
    "Nigeria drops from 109th to 117th place in Global Hunger Index rankings."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Obi’s call for emergency intervention highlights a growing disconnect between Nigeria’s vast uncultivated agricultural potential and the worsening food insecurity currently threatening millions of families across the country.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}