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About 47 million May Face Food Crisis in the Next Three Months in West Africa, ECOWAS Raises the Alarm
About 47 million May Face Food Crisis in the Next Three Months in West Africa, ECOWAS Raises the Alarm
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has raised alerted of the danger of about 47 million people in the region facing food crisis between June and August 2025, if actions are not taken to check the current food security situation.
ECOWAS disclosed that at present 34.7 million people require immediate food and nutrition assistance in the region.
Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of ECOWAS, Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse made the disclosure at the opening of the third meeting of the Management Committee of the Regional Food Security Reserve (RFSR) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Toure-Litse, who was represented by the Acting Executive Director, Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, ECOWAS, Mr. Mohammed Zongo, said it is imperative that the region strengthens its immediate response mechanisms while consolidating the foundations of sustainable resilience.
She noted that the food and nutrition security situation in West Africa and the Sahel has deteriorated considerably in recent years.
The commissioner while explaining that the nutritional crisis persists in several areas of the region, with global acute malnutrition rates ranging between 10 and 14%, said that: “Analyses carried out in December 2024, based on the Harmonized Framework, revealed that nearly 34.7 million people require immediate food and nutrition assistance. If appropriate measures are not taken, this figure could reach 47 million by the lean season from June to August 2025.
“Furthermore, the nutritional crisis persists in several areas of our region, with global acute malnutrition rates ranging between 10 and 14%.
“Faced with this worrying situation, aggravated by multiple challenges: geopolitical reconfiguration of the region, persistent conflicts, economic crises, climate change and chronic food insecurity, it is imperative that our region strengthens its immediate response mechanisms while consolidating the foundations of sustainable resilience.
“Food security stocks appear to be key social protection tools, used at different scales -local, national, regional to respond effectively to food crises.”
Speaking on the meeting, Toure-Litse said it “will allow us to take stock of the operations carried out by the Regional Reserve since March 2023 based on the guidelines of the Executive Board, particularly with regard to purchases, interventions, stock replenishment, technical rotations and the identification of new storage spaces. It will also allow us to plan the operations planned for 2025, ensuring that we support Member States in caring for the populations most affected by food, nutritional and pastoral crisis.
“Our discussions and decisions will thus ensure transparency, efficiency and fairness in the management of the Reserve, while adapting it to present and future challenges.
“As you know, for almost 10 years, our actions have been part of the regional storage strategy. We have learned many lessons by comparing the theory of the regional storage strategy with the practice of its implementation on the ground. We are also facing new challenges related to the changing socio-political context in our region and at the global level. This is why we must adjust this strategy and the operating rules of the Regional Reserve in the aim of strengthening the coordination and effectiveness of our collective action.”
In his remarks, Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari said the food challenge is a reminder of the urgent need to strengthen strategies and response instruments to effectively deal with the food and nutrition crisis affecting the region.
Kyari, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Marcus Ogunbiyi insisted that the food reserve has become an essential pillar of the region’s collective strategy for responding to food and nutrition crisis.
He said: “This meeting is taking place at a particularly worrying moment for our region it is a common knowledge globally especially in West Africa and Sahel; that food security situation has worsened in the recent years due to conflicts, economic instability and devastating impact of climate change. A situation compounded by a decline in funding, geopolitical concerns in the region and general lack of access to food. This, according to the recent cadre Harmonize report (December 2024), has made nearly 34 7 million people in dire need of immediate food and nutritional assistance.
“These major challenges remind us of the urgent need to strengthen our strategies and response instruments to effectively deal with food and nutrition crisis affecting our region. “They also alert us on the growing need for sovereign financing of our agriculture in general and our response mechanisms to food crises in particular. This therefore calls forna delibrate concerted effort to address food production, strategic food storage, markets and price volatility as well as re-strategizibf of the regional body especially in the administration and management of the regional food security reserve.”
The Regional Food Security Reserve, established in 2013 by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, supports the region’s member states, Chad, and Mauritania, in managing food crises. Its objectives are to: Complement the efforts of Member States by providing rapid, diversified and adapted food assistance to populations in crisis situations; Express regional solidarity with Member States and populations through transparent mechanisms; Strengthening food sovereignty and regional integration.
Since its creation, the Reserve has made significant progress. It currently has a projected capital of more than 74,000 tons of food, stored in several areas of our region, which can be deployed quickly if needed.
About 47 million May Face Food Crisis in the Next Three Months in West Africa, ECOWAS Raises the Alarm
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), on Wednesday said that the Federal Government’s programmes and policies under President Bola Tinubu-led administration were improving the welfare of Nigerians.
Mrs Adaline Patari, the State Director of NOA, Gombe State office, stated this shortly after a road show to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day anniversary in Gombe.
Patari said that programmes and policies of Tinubu-led administration had supported many Nigerians from the student’s loan to conditional cash transfer to support to small businesses amongst others.
She stated that the initiatives by the present administration had restored hope and put the country amongst serious countries pursuing better reforms to improve their economy while revamping infrastructure.
According to her, many undergraduates benefitting from the student’s loan scheme which has removed all financial hindrances impeding access to tertiary education now feel a sense of belonging.
She said that the programmes and policies of the Federal Government have benefitted many households and improved their welfare in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
“The reforms of the Federal Government are working and many persons are proud to be Nigerians and more persons are now trying to do the right things as Nigerians.
“People are beginning to see themselves as proud Nigerians and that confidence of being a Nigerian is being restored.
“Today, many Nigerians are benefitting from the programmes of the current administration, this means that the country is now working for them,” she said.
While acknowledging that there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, Patari said, at 65, we have made tremendous progress especially working together in peace and unity.
She urged Nigerians to continue to support Tinubu administration’s programmes towards building a better country that works for all Nigerians.
The state director said that with the necessary reforms being carried out and already yielding results in the economic, agriculture, security and other sectors, more Nigerians would be prouder to be Nigerians in the future.
“Today, the country is progressing and we are united; we are now prouder to be Nigerians and I can tell you that the labour of our heroes past, indeed is never in vain,” she added.
Commending the contributions of youths to national development, Patari urged them to have a positive mind-set towards Nigeria and to always express optimism of a better Nigeria for everyone.
Patari also lauded the renewed strength with which NOA under the Director General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu was being driven.
She said that government’s policies and programmes were getting more supports from Nigerians because of the constant engagements of Nigerians by the NOA nationwide.
The event also featured sensitisation of residents on Federal Government’s policies, programmes and the need for the people to support the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda
Nigeria@65: FG’s programmes improving welfare of Nigerians- NOA
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
By: Michael Mike
Senior Government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have today met in Abuja to assess the vibrant economic partnership between the two parties and chart a way forward.
The inaugural Nigeria-EU Senior Officials Trade and investment Dialogue (TID) was anchored by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, and Director of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE), Ms Dora Correia,
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot,, welcomed the launch of the Dialogue, which they said underscored the growing importance attached to trade and investment in the EU-Nigeria partnership.
This Senior Officials’ meeting marks an important step in strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the EU and Nigeria, and provided opportunity for the officials to exchange views on areas of mutual interest; address potential challenges and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
Discussions focused on a range of issues, including trade and investment policy, cooperation on market access barriers and requirements, preferential trade and investment arrangements, investment, collaboration within the World Trade Organization (WTO), regulatory measures that could impact trade and investment, and the identification of trade and investment-related development cooperation areas.
Both sides expressed their interest to continue the Dialogue, with the second TID billed to take place in Brussels, Belgium, in 2026, on a date to be jointly decided.
Nigeria, European Union hold inaugural Trade and Investment Dialogue
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion.
Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity, and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960.
He urged Nigerians to further keep faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which is anchored on national rebirth, economic transformation, and collective prosperity.
The Minister expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all Nigerians, the country will continue to grow stronger in peace, progress, and development.
He wished Nigerians a happy and memorable 2025 Independence Day celebration.
FG Declares Wednesday, Oct. 1 Public Holiday to Marks 65th Independence Anniversary
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