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Hungry People to Reach 49.5 million in Nigeria, Other West and Central African Countries in August 2024-WFP
Hungry People to Reach 49.5 million in Nigeria, Other West and Central African Countries in August 2024-WFP
By: Michael Mike
Hungry people in West and Central Africa including Nigeria may reach a staggering 49.5 million people between June and August 2024, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised the alarm.
The WFP in a statement on Tuesday said: Despite considerable efforts by governments and partners, food insecurity continues to worsen in West and Central Africa with the number of hungry people set to reach a staggering 49.5 million people between June and August 2024 – a four percent increase compared to 2023, according to a regional food security analysis which was released same day.
The statement read that: “The trend is particularly worrying in coastal countries, where the number of women, men, and children facing acute hunger (IPC/CH phases 3 or higher) is expected to reach 6.2 million during the June-August 2024 hunger gap – a 16 percent increase on last year. The November 2023 Cadre Harmonisé analysis projects cereal and tuber production throughout the region to be slightly above both last year’s levels and the 5-year average due to improved rains in 2023.”
According to the statement: Acute hunger in West and Central Africa is mainly driven by conflict – which has forcibly displaced millions of people from their homes and farms, the impact of the climate crisis, and high food and fuel prices. The prices of main foods remain well above the five-year average, particularly rice, corn, millet, sorghum, cassava and vegetable oil, despite seasonal declines in the prices of local commodities compared to last year.
The statement quoted WFP’s Acting Regional Director for Western Africa, Margot Vandervelden to have said:
“Acute hunger remains at record levels in the region, yet funding needed to respond is not keeping a pace; this is forcing WFP to scale back lifesaving assistance for those most affected in their hour of greatest need”, adding that: “Insufficient funding means the moderately hungry will be forced to skip meals and consume less nutritious food, putting them at risk of falling back into crisis or emergency phases, perpetuating the cycle of hunger and malnutrition. We need to break this circle by tackling the root causes of hunger and by building the resilience of families in West Africa.”
The statement added that the nutritional situation remains worrying, particularly in the Sahel, where emergency levels of child wasting were reached and surpassed in several countries this year, notably in parts of Mali, north-west Nigeria and Burkina Faso, it added that this was due to fragile food systems which do not deliver the specific nutritional needs of women and children; limited access to basic social services; and poor care and hygiene practices.
It noted that more than 2 out of 3 households in West and Central Africa cannot afford healthy diets. And 8 out of 10 children aged 6-23 months do not consume the minimum number of food groups they need for optimal growth and development. In the year up to the end of October 2023, 1.9 million children under five years were admitted for treatment of severe wasting across nine Sahel countries, representing a 20 percent increase as compared to the same period in 2022.
The UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Felicité Tchibindat said: “Children in West and Central Africa have a right to nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets,” “We invest to prevent child malnutrition happening in the first place, but we also need funding to keep supporting government services for the early detection, treatment, and care of malnourished children to help them survive, recover, and go on to live healthy and productive lives with dignity.”
The statement stated that the cost of a daily nutritious diet in central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) is 110 percent higher than the daily minimum wage in the region, and more and more households rely on local markets to provide their food, even in rural areas, according to the 2023 Food security and Nutrition report. For comparison, the cost of healthy diet in Africa is as high as in the USA, despite the latter GDP being more than 35 times that in the Africa region.
To address the spiralling food insecurity and malnutrition, FAO, UNICEF and WFP called on national government and financial partners to prioritize programmes that strengthen climate resilient food systems and livelihoods and invest in social protection systems, and improve natural resource management, including water, as an accelerator of resilience and development.
Participants in the Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis also recommended timely development and implementation of emergency programmes that address immediate food and nutritional needs of populations experiencing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity and malnutrition (IPC/CH phases 3 to 5). This will not only save lives, but also prevent the risk of malnutrition among children in areas most affected by insecurity and economic crises including in Burkina Faso, Chad, DRC, Mali, Nigeria and Niger.
“With the persistence of food and nutritional insecurity, we must act urgently to save millions of lives by advocating for the acceleration of resource mobilization to finance national response plans and facilitate access to areas facing insecurity or difficult to access, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria”, said FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Robert Guei.
The Cadre Harmonisé analysis also showed an estimated 94 million people in West and Central Africa under food security “Stress” (IPC/CH phase 2) between October and December 2023. Left without support, these communities are at risk of shifting to “crisis” and “emergency” (IPC/CH phases 3 and 4) levels of hunger tomorrow.
Hungry People to Reach 49.5 million in Nigeria, Other West and Central African Countries in August 2024-WFP
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Jos DisCo offers Gombe Staff free medical care, drugs
Jos DisCo offers Gombe Staff free medical care, drugs
The management of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) has conducted a free medical examinations as well as distributed free drugs to its staff in Gombe State Office, as part of its health advocacy to improve wellbeing of its employees and boost productivity.
As part of JEDC’s health initiative, a fitness walk was also organised on Saturday for all employees in Gombe State.
A fitness coach, Jauro Dauda, who led the walk urged officials of JED to prioritise regular exercise as part of efforts to maintain good health and boost productivity.
The exercise began at the company’s state headquarters, from where officials trekked to Pantami Stadium.
At the stadium, staff members participated in various physical exercises before returning to the office premises for medical examinations.
Speaking to participants, Dauda emphasised the need for a healthy lifestyle through eating nutritious foods and regular exercise.
“For you to function well, you need to keep your body fit. So I advise each and every one of you to create time at home. You can take your wife on a walk.
“The content of what we eat today can cause a lot of health issues like hypertension and diabetes. Knowing your health status is very important; knowing it is good to living long,” he said.
Also speaking, the Gombe State Operating Officer of JEDC, Rilwan Shehu, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and encouraged staff to sustain the culture of exercise beyond organised events.
“We are happy that we can exercise not only in the stadium; you can exercise at home,” Shehu said.
He added that the company operates an inclusive system that promotes unity among staff.
“We in JEDC operate an open-door policy; there is no junior or senior cadre. We do things together and we win together,” he said.
Jos DisCo offers Gombe Staff free medical care, drugs
News
Customs officer killed in gun attack after cannabis seizure in Ogun
Customs officer killed in gun attack after cannabis seizure in Ogun
By: Zagazola Makama
A senior officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), ASC Akinyode Mustapha, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen following the interception of a vehicle loaded with cannabis in Imeko area of Ogun State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that a team of officers from the NCS Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, led by DSC Ogundana Oluwademi, had on Feb. 2, at about 11:40 p.m., intercepted a Sienna bus loaded with suspected cannabis at Oke-Agbede via Imeko.
The driver of the vehicle, however, escaped on foot.
“While the team was returning to Lagos with the seized exhibit vehicle, they came under gunfire by unknown assailants at the Immigration checkpoint, Idofa, Imeko,” the sources said.
The sources added that a bullet struck ASC Akinyode Mustapha, aged 50, during the attack.
He was immediately rushed to the General Hospital, Ilaro, where he was later confirmed dead by the medical doctor on duty.
Upon receipt of the report on Feb. 4 at about 3:30 p.m., security forces stormed the scene. No expended ammunition or cartridge was recovered at the location, and photographs of the scene were taken.
The team leader reportedly released the corpse to the deceased’s family for burial, while the seized exhibit vehicle had earlier been taken to the NCS base in Lagos.
The sources said preliminary investigation was ongoing to verify the claims and unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Further developments will be communicated, the command said.
Customs officer killed in gun attack after cannabis seizure in Ogun
News
VP Shettima Leads FG Delegation To Condole With Victims Of Kwara Attack
VP Shettima Leads FG Delegation To Condole With Victims Of Kwara Attack
***Assures all hands are on deck to restore peace, tranquility to Kaiama
***Says President Tinubu has directed NEMA to mobilise resources to support distressed communities
By: Our Reporter
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has reaffirmed the determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that peace and tranquillity are restored in Nuku and Woro villages in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State in the aftermath of Tuesday’s attacks on the communities by terrorists.
He assured the people of the communities that while the President had ordered the deployment of a battalion of the Nigerian Army to Kaiama, all hands were already on deck to rid the affected communities and the entire state of insecurity.

Senator Shettima gave the assurance on Saturday when he led a Federal Government delegation to commiserate with the people of Kaiama Local Government and the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, over the deadly terrorist attack that claimed several lives.
The Vice President disclosed that President Tinubu has instructed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to mobilise all resources, in partnership with the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency, to provide succour and support to the distress communities.

“Your Excellency, we are here at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to commiserates with you and the good people of Kaiama and Kwara State, by extension, over the tragedy that befell our communities of Woro and Nuku on the evening of Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
“That tragic killings had shocked Nigerians because the victims were peaceful members of the communities that were dedicated to building peaceful livelihood, while they practice their religion in the peaceful and harmonious manner that the injunctions of Islam has instructed,” he said
VP Shettima extended what he described as the heartfelt condolences of President Tinubu and the Federal Government to the government and those who lost their loved ones in the gory attacks, noting that all hands were already on deck to restore peace in the community.

“Please, accept our heartfelt condolences, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. A battalion of the Nigerian Army had been deployed to Kaiama and all hands are on deck to ensure that peace and tranquility is restored to those communities,” he assured.
The VP did not disclose the measures being taken to restore peace in the area, observing however that “security issues are sensitive issues and we do not have to divulge most of the actions that are being taken by our security establishment.
“But I’m here fundamentally to commiserates with the government and people of Kwara and the people of Kaiama, in particular, over the tragic loss of lives and to reassure the good people of the state of harmony. Our prayers are with you, our empathy is with you,” the Vice President added.
Earlier, Chairman of the North East Governors Forum, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, extended the condolences and sympathy of the North East Governors to the people and government of Kwara State over the tragedy.

He said, “As Muslims, we believe in destiny and it is our sincere hope that, by God’s grace, this act will not happen again. Our prayers are with you and it is our sincere prayer that Almighty Allah will forgive those that have lost their lives and grant them Aljannah firdaus,” Governor Zulum prayed.
Responding, the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaq, applauded the swift response of the Federal Government to the incident, saying “as confirmed by the Local Government Chairman, troops are already on ground and the Operation Savannah Shield is in motion.
“As you can see, we were welcomed at the airport by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Second Division of the Nigerian Army. A DIG is on ground. We truly appreciate the response of the Federal Government, and representatives of NEMA have been on ground since the incident happened.”
The Governor called for continued prayers for better a situation and better security in Nigeria, just as he said, “One is short of words and what to say but we will continue to support our President, the Vice President and our leadership for God to guide them in the affairs of this nation.”
Also, the Chairman of Kaiama local government area, Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar Danladi, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for the immediate deployment of a military battalion in the area, and thanked the Governor of Kwara state for his leadership.
On his part, the Emir of Kaiama, HRH Alhaji Mu’azu Shehu Omar, also applauded President Tinubu for the prompt action taken after the massacre that in Kaiama.
“We really appreciate the effort of President Tinubu. Since the incident happened on Tuesday, he has shown concerned toward us. The security personnel and other relevant agencies are adequately deployed to arrest the situation,” the traditional ruler said.
Other dignitaries present during the visit include the Director-General of NEMA), Zubaida Umar; Sen. Ali Mohammed Ndume; Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), Eng. Jennifer Adighije; former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, and members of Kwara State House of Assembly, among others.
VP Shettima Leads FG Delegation To Condole With Victims Of Kwara Attack
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