Treat hunger as a national emergency, Delta elders urge govt

Elders of the Obedient Movement in Delta State have called on all tiers of government to treat hunger in Nigeria as a national emergency, stressing the need to safeguard the wellbeing and dignity of citizens.

In a communiqué issued after their meeting in Kwale, the elders highlighted the challenges faced by farmers, including high production costs, rising transportation expenses, and limited access to agricultural support systems.

They also demanded the restoration of farmlands seized by ethnic militias in the Middle Belt, particularly in key food-producing areas.

“Farmers face numerous obstacles that have worsened the food crisis. For the first time in recent history, Nigerians staged a peaceful protest against hunger in August 2024,” the communiqué said.

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The council condemned persistent insecurity across the country, citing attacks by armed militias, bandits and kidnappers, which have led to the loss of lives, displacement, and disruption of economic activities.

To address the security challenges, the elders called for improved intelligence gathering, better coordination among agencies, proper equipment and remuneration for security personnel and the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of violence.

They further raised concerns about the electoral process, rejecting any return to manual computation of election results. They demanded immediate uploading of results from polling units to the IREV portal, citing provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and warning against changes that could undermine the integrity of elections.

Chief Chris O.O. Boise, protem Chairman, and Chief Solomon Akani, Protem Secretary of the Delta State Obedient Elders Council, signed the communiqué, emphasising that urgent action on hunger, insecurity and electoral integrity is crucial for national stability and development.