Oxfam Nigeria, one of the leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting food security advocacy in the country, has described the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war as undesirable to efforts by the Nigerian government and others to ensure food security for millions of their citizens.
Warning that if something is not done to abate the situation the war may cause a devastating global food crisis, the NGO, in a statement by Oxfam International Country Director in Nigeria, Dr. Vincent Ahonsi and signed by Rita Abiodun, advocated the need for the Nigerian and other governments.
To support the development of sustainable, resilient and local food systems, based on small-scale production and family farming to guarantee food security.
According to the NGO, in the short-term, donor governments must bridge the gap between what people can pay and higher prices, and deliver much-needed aid to people facing severe hunger who will be even more impacted by the rise in food prices.
It canvassed: “Nigeria needs a food system that works for everybody. This means a food system that can stand against shocks such as the climate crisis and rapid food inflation on international food markets, and does not contribute to environmental destruction
“Nigeria government needs to provide the public funding necessary to create fair, gender-just, and sustainable food systems, particularly focusing on agroecological production which is inherently less dependent on imports of feed and agricultural inputs, and more resilient to climate change impacts.
“There is an urgent need for the government to implement universal and adequate social protection measures to support the people, ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable people have social protection.
“Action should include unconditional cash or food transfer schemes, which are widely rather than narrowly targeted, regular and predictable, and automatically triggered by price rises”, the NGO added.
Oxfam Nigeria further pointed out that the crisis in Ukraine had caused food prices to skyrocket globally in the last few weeks with some forecasts estimating up to a 20 percent increase, thereby adding pressure to the already devastating hunger crises across the world and causing fears of food shortages.
It noted that before the Ukraine crisis, the UN estimated that food prices in Sub-Saharan Africa were 30-40% higher than the rest of the world, taking into account comparative levels of GDP per capita.
