The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) and OXFAM are calling for the Right to Food Act in Nigeria.
The non-profit organisations cited the implementation of the act as a necessary step towards ending hunger, improving nutrition, and ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe and affordable food.
The act, which aims to ensure that every Nigerian has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023, is yet to be fully implemented.
The NGOs made the call during a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue on the Right to Food Act held in Lagos recently.
Michael David, executive director of GIFSEP, in his keynote address, explained that the right to food is a fundamental human right.
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“Food security has eluded Nigeria since independence, and this is largely due to the failure to enforce the Right to Food Act. The right to food is fundamentally the freedom from hunger,” he added.
David noted that, despite efforts to promote food security, challenges such as hunger, high food costs, unemployment, and limited accessibility persist in Africa’s most populous country.
He emphasised the need to raise awareness and build a strong foundation for multi-stakeholder collaboration and accountable governance structures that would ensure food security in the country.
“Today, we must reaffirm our commitment to turning policy into action, holding relevant authorities accountable, and ensuring that every Nigerian has access to food as a basic human right,” said David.
He applauded the Lagos State Government for its proactive agricultural initiatives, noting that the state had set a commendable example by supporting farmers and ensuring improved access to food.
Also speaking at the event, Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo, director of the Fresh Food Hub, Lagos Ministry of Agriculture and Food System, who represented Abisola Olusanya, Lagos State commissioner for Agriculture, welcomed the call for full implementation of the Act.
Olusanya reiterated the government’s commitment to sustainable food systems and urged stakeholders and beneficiaries to help sustain ongoing efforts.
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In his remarks, John Makina, country director of OXFAM, also praised Lagos for its agricultural development efforts. He stressed that despite Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources, millions continue to suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition.
Makina noted that food is a basic necessity of life, citing data from the United Nations’ food body, which states that over 20 million Nigerians are severely food insecure.
“Between 2020 and 2022, more than 21 percent of Nigeria’s population experienced hunger, with many going entire days without food due to poverty and lack of access,” he said.
Makina attributed the rising rates of food insecurity to a combination of factors, including poverty, inequality, displacement, poor infrastructure, and climate change.
