Providence Obuh

THE National Association of Nigerian Traders, (NANTS) has outlined measures government should take to address the recurring food challenges as Nigeria marks World Food Day WFD.

A statement signed by the Programme Officer, Agric and Livelihoods, Mr. Azubuike Nwokoye, stated that the country must address the problem of desertification in the northern part of the country, which takes about 350,000 hectares of arable land per year, stating that it is important to note that in the 10 northern states of the country, each year, as well as the desert advances another 600 metres further south, forcing tens of thousands of farmers and their families to move off land that has become barren.

Nwokoye noted that deforestation also cost the country over 60 per cent of its original forest cover, with the 60 per cent of the remaining forest cover, domiciled in Cross River State at risk.

He explained that land degradation is a daily occurrence in the Niger Delta, as a result of oil spillage, the remaining arable land in Ogoni land, Rivers State, is at risk of being grabbed by the government under the guise of foreign investment, without consideration of the effects on the livelihood of members of the communities in question.

He pointed that flooding in Lagos, Ibadan and other south-west states, which has killed hundreds of people, destroyed properties worth billions, rendered thousands homeless and destroyed crops and farmlands.

Food security problems

According to him, land grabbing and related practices, is fast becoming a menace, and if left unchecked, will pose serious environmental and food security problems in Nigeria. Recommending means to curb the problems on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people he said government should look into the menace of the new land grabbing trend in Nigeria, where state governments practically hand over community lands to foreigners, thereby jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of Nigerians and contributing immensely to poverty and unemployment.

Continued, he recommended tree planting exercise and forest protection, as a part of the ways to curb the encroachment of the desert on arable lands, leading to displacement of rural dwellers and farmers, “The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and other relevant agencies, should work towards ensuring that oil spills are promptly cleaned up, so as to mitigate the destruction of farms and water resources in the Niger Delta. “

However, the WFD celebration is a worldwide event observed by all Food and Agriculture Organisation FAO member nations on the 16th of October every year, to create awareness and understanding on the nature and dimension of the World Food problem and develop the sense of national struggle as well as a year-around action against hunger, malnutrition and extreme poverty. consideration of the fact that “food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity.”(resolution 35/70 of 5 1980).