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Africa Bears Heaviest Burden of Global Food Insecurity, Speaker Laments
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has decried that the burden of food insecurity in the world is heaviest on African.
The Speaker further noted that the parliaments on the continent could address some of the issues causing food crisis.
The Speaker made the observations while delivering an address at the third plenary session of the ongoing 18th Commonwealth Speakers’ and Presiding Officers’ Conference,CSCOP, in Yaoundé, Cameroon yesterday.
Speaking under the titled: ‘Addressing Challenges of Food Security in Africa by Promoting Investment in Agriculture.’
Hon Abbas said “While food insecurity is a global crisis, Africa sadly bears the heaviest burden of the global lack of access to food and nutrition. The 2022 Global Report on Food Crises noted that one out of every five African goes to bed hungry daily while an estimated 140 million out of Africa’s one billion populations face acute food insecurity. These observations have been made by various speakers in this session, and there are several causes for this challenge,” Abbas said while addressing other heads of parliaments.
According to him,” some of the factors causing food crisis in Africa are armed conflicts of different kinds and magnitude; climate change; impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; rising population; subsistence farming and crude agricultural practices; lack of access to credit, poor infrastructure, and lack of investment in agri-business, among others.
Speaker also noted; “Suffice it to say that these factors reinforce themselves. For example, armed conflicts disrupt agricultural activities by destroying crops, livestock and preventing farmers from access to the farms.
“The Nigerian case demonstrates this much. The activities of Boko Haram terrorists in the North Eastern part of the country greatly contributed to Nigeria’s rising food insecurity as farmers could not have access to their farms following the sacking of several villages in the wake of the attacks which lasted for several years. The terrorist attacks equally impacted negatively on the activities of commercial fishermen within the Lake Chad region.”
The Speaker also noted that on the other hand, the recurring conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria is “fallout from the impact of climate change which brought in its wake, drought and extreme weather conditions in the Northern part of the country, which necessitated the need for herders to move their flock to other parts of the country for grazing.”
Speaker Abbas further noted that the movement of the herds “often destroys farmlands and crops, which triggers retaliatory action from farmers who in turn, slaughter the livestock of the herders,” stressing that, “These two actions further worsen the food crisis as both livestock and crops are destroyed.”
The Speaker buttressed his point with the fact that extreme weather conditions occasioned by climate change and global warming pose severe threats to agricultural production and increases food insecurity within the continent.
He said: “Our food insecurity is equally exacerbated with the poor infrastructure within the continent which ensures that farmers are unable to preserve produce, transform them as well as move their produce to urban centres for better pricing.
“Related to the foregoing is the lack of investment in agribusiness, which is as a result of a number of factors including poor infrastructure, ill-conceived policies, lack of access to land, high cost of doing business and many others. Farm implements and other incentives are not within the reach of most farmers in our continent who largely operate at a subsistent level.”
Speaker Abbas, however, pointed out that the legislature is very critical to tackling the ravaging scourge of food insecurity in Africa, through the three cardinal functions of legislation, oversight and representation. “Many of the challenges related to food insecurity can be addressed with the right legislative framework and actions,” he stated.
Through legislation, the Speaker said, parliaments can remove the bottlenecks mitigating investment in agribusiness in the African continent. He also said with legislation, we can make the operating environment more conducive to attract investors into the sector and ensure that their investments are protected.
The Speaker stated; “We must enact legislations that provide access to land, credit, and other incentives that make investing in agribusiness attractive and rewarding.
“We can equally reduce food losses with the necessary legislative framework that promotes climate-proof agricultural production. Greenhouse farming can help the continent overcome adverse weather conditions induced by climate change and increase food production and supply.
“Parliament can deploy the power of the purse to appropriate funds for infrastructural development particularly of the rural areas where the bulk of African food production takes place.
“Parliaments must also ensure, through oversight, that these funds are properly utilized as appropriated.”
According to Speaker Abbas, investing in infrastructure will not only enable farmers have access to markets for improved pricing of their produce but will also encourage investment in agribusiness of all kinds.
He also stated that the legislature “must take every necessary action” to address the scourge of armed conflict, which he said hampers agricultural production on the continent. “Some of the factors are political, economic, legal and social. All of these fall within the remit of the legislature,” he stated.
The Speaker noted: “In Nigeria, we have some laws that promote agriculture and investments in the sector:
“The Agricultural Seeds Act Cap N5 Volume 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 is meant to harmonise the seed industry with other significant agricultural input to meet the increasing demand of agricultural seeds. The law also promotes productivity and export capability.
“The Agricultural credit Guarantee Scheme Fund Act Cap A10 LFN, 2004 was established to grant loans to farmers to enhance their agricultural capacity to produce and improve the economy.
“The Agricultural (Control of Importation Act Cap 13 LFN 2004, provides for the regulation of the importation of articles used for controlling plant diseases and pests which are injurious to agricultural or horticultural crops.
“The Agricultural Research Council Act of Nigeria recently amended to include Colleges of agriculture in Nigeria with the aim to promote research and related matters in Agriculture.
“The Sea Fisheries Act Cap S4 LFN, 2004 is meant to control, regulate and protect sea fisheries in the territorial waters of Nigeria.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s ease of doing business is a fundamental policy which crystalised into several legislation to support its citizens to have access to different platforms in promoting their businesses, including in agriculture.
According to him, the Anchor Borrowers scheme was one of the fallouts of the ease of doing business, where famers were provided with seeds by the Central Bank of Nigeria and after production, the CBN had to procure the yields from the famers. He stated: “This encouraged investments and interests in the agricultural sector.”
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“Nigeria’s Biggest Ever Coalition, Civil Groups, Professionals, Labour, Artisans, Declare for Bola Tinubu”
In what is being described as an unprecedented political development ahead of the 2027 general elections, a broad-based national coalition cutting across civil society organisations, professional bodies, labour groups, artisan associations, and other grassroots networks has announced plans to formally endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.
The coalition, spearheaded by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, COCSON, now extends far beyond the traditional civic space, bringing together over 1,500 groups from diverse sectors of the Nigerian society. Participants include human rights organisations, medical and legal professionals, trade and artisan unions, community-based organisations, and influential labour leaders, reflecting a wide national spread and multi-sectoral backing.
The historic convention is scheduled to hold on May 17, 2026, where leaders and representatives of the various groups are expected to converge in what organisers say will be the largest endorsement gathering in Nigeria’s history. The event will serve as the official platform for the coalition to collectively declare support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In a major demonstration of grassroots mobilisation, the coalition also revealed plans to submit a compiled total of 20 million signatures of Nigerians who have endorsed the President’s candidacy. The signatures, gathered through extensive nationwide engagement, are being positioned as a clear indication of public support cutting across regions, professions, and social strata.
Organisers of the event stated that the decision to back President Tinubu is driven by what they described as tangible strides in economic reforms, governance, and national stability. They emphasised that the inclusion of non-traditional actors such as artisans, market groups, and labour unions underscores a broader national consensus that transcends the usual civil society framework.
Political analysts say the scale and diversity of this coalition mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, where support structures are no longer confined to political parties and elite stakeholders but are increasingly driven by a fusion of grassroots and professional constituencies.
As momentum builds towards the May 17 convention, observers are keenly watching how this expansive alliance will shape political narratives and influence voter sentiment in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
Further details on the convention and breakdown of participating groups are expected to be unveiled in the coming days.
In what is being described as an unprecedented political development ahead of the 2027 general elections, a broad-based national coalition cutting across civil society organisations, professional bodies, labour groups, artisan associations, and other grassroots networks has announced plans to formally endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in office.
The coalition, spearheaded by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, COCSON, now extends far beyond the traditional civic space, bringing together over 1,500 groups from diverse sectors of the Nigerian society. Participants include human rights organisations, medical and legal professionals, trade and artisan unions, community-based organisations, and influential labour leaders, reflecting a wide national spread and multi-sectoral backing.
The historic convention is scheduled to hold on May 17, 2026, where leaders and representatives of the various groups are expected to converge in what organisers say will be the largest endorsement gathering in Nigeria’s history. The event will serve as the official platform for the coalition to collectively declare support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In a major demonstration of grassroots mobilisation, the coalition also revealed plans to submit a compiled total of 20 million signatures of Nigerians who have endorsed the President’s candidacy. The signatures, gathered through extensive nationwide engagement, are being positioned as a clear indication of public support cutting across regions, professions, and social strata.
Organisers of the event stated that the decision to back President Tinubu is driven by what they described as tangible strides in economic reforms, governance, and national stability. They emphasised that the inclusion of non-traditional actors such as artisans, market groups, and labour unions underscores a broader national consensus that transcends the usual civil society framework.
Political analysts say the scale and diversity of this coalition mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, where support structures are no longer confined to political parties and elite stakeholders but are increasingly driven by a fusion of grassroots and professional constituencies.
As momentum builds towards the May 17 convention, observers are keenly watching how this expansive alliance will shape political narratives and influence voter sentiment in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
Further details on the convention and breakdown of participating groups are expected to be unveiled in the coming days.
☆☆☆As Troops Foil Series of Ambushes.
Troops of the Nigerian Army under operation Hadin Kai have foiled a series of ambush by suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (I SWAP) terrorist along the Monguno in Borno state.
Islamic state of West Africa province (ISWAP) have attacked the Nigerian army from Monguno 242 Battion Barrack in Borno State on their way to reinforce the camp.
A serving Nigerian Army Colonel was reportedly killed in an ambush by insurgents in Monguno, Borno State, during a reinforcement mission
Source added said that colonel I.A. Muhammad was ambushed by ISWAP and killed along with four other soldiers.
Community confirmed that the troops who were on a fighting patrol as part of operation,came under fire from suspected terrorists
As of the time of felling this report, there has been no official statements from the Nigerian Army regarding the accident.
Hon. Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC), has joined Nigerians and the global business community in celebrating Alhaji Aliko Dangote on his 69th birthday. In a detailed tribute, Dogara described Dangote as “a visionary whose life’s work has become a cornerstone of Africa’s economic transformation.”
Dogara emphasized that Dangote’s entrepreneurial journey is one of resilience and foresight. From humble beginnings, he built the Dangote Group into Africa’s largest conglomerate, with investments spanning cement, sugar, salt, fertilizers, and the landmark Dangote Refinery. These ventures, Dogara noted, have not only revolutionized industries but also created millions of jobs, strengthened Nigeria’s economy, and reduced dependence on imports. “Alhaji Dangote is not just an entrepreneur; he is a nation-builder whose vision has redefined what is possible for Nigeria and Africa,” Dogara said.
He pointed out that the Dangote Refinery, in particular, represents a turning point in Nigeria’s energy sector, offering the promise of self-sufficiency in petroleum products and positioning the country as a major player in global energy markets. “This singular achievement underscores his commitment to solving Africa’s most pressing challenges through bold and innovative solutions,” Dogara remarked.
Beyond his industrial empire, Dogara praised Dangote’s philanthropy through the Dangote Foundation, which has invested heavily in healthcare, education, and humanitarian relief. From building hospitals and funding scholarships to providing aid during crises, Dangote’s generosity has touched countless lives across the continent. “His philanthropy reflects a deep commitment to humanity. He has shown that true greatness lies not only in building industries but also in uplifting lives,” Dogara added.
Dogara also reflected on the inspirational power of Dangote’s story, stressing that his rise from modest beginnings to global prominence serves as a beacon of hope for young Africans. “His journey proves that with hard work, faith, and determination, Africans can build enterprises that rival the best in the world. He remains a shining example of African excellence,” he concluded.
As Dangote celebrates his 69th birthday, his legacy continues to resonate far beyond Nigeria’s borders. His life stands as a testament to the transformative power of vision, enterprise, and compassion—an enduring reminder that Africa’s future can be defined by innovation, resilience, and generosity
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