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33 million Nigerians Could Face Hunger 2025

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

If urgent steps are not taken, about 33 million Nigerians could suffer hunger next year, the United Nations (UN) has warned.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that as of today, about 25 million people in the country are in need of food to eat.

The three UN agencies, therefore, appealed for lifesaving support for Nigeria, especially for 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women that face the threat of acute malnutrition or wasting.

“Never before have there been so many people in Nigeria without food,” Chi Lael, WFP spokesperson for the country, told journalists at the UN in Geneva.

She warned that of this number, an alarming 1.8 million children could suffer severe acute malnutrition and may require critical nutrition treatment.

“What worries us most is the speed of deterioration over the past year, the scale—in terms of the number of people at risk, the geographic scope of food insecurity, and the very real risk of a significant worsening in the coming months,” she said.

She stressed the need for an “immediate and massive” collective response that spans prevention, mitigation, and life-saving assistance.

This includes preventative action in rural areas to halt hunger from spreading, such as providing vulnerable farmers with cash, seeds, and fertilizer. Meanwhile, urgent assistance in areas such as nutrition, health support, food supply, and water and sanitation will reduce the depth of the crisis.

“We have it within our grasp to stem this crisis and avert catastrophe in Nigeria. If we respond now, it is manageable, at full stretch, but it can be done,” she said.

A recent assessment found that immediate support is needed to avert a potential food and nutrition disaster in the face of triple-digit increases in food prices, the aftermath of devastating floods, and 15 years of insurgency in the northeast.

Nigeria faces a monumental hunger crisis in the second half of 2025, particularly in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, home to some five million people who are facing acute food insecurity.

Other areas, including emerging hunger hotspots in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states, are also at risk.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede for Africa Financial Summit in Morocco

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By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The chief executive of Coronation Asset Management, Mr Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede, will speak at the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS) fixed for Monday, December 9 to Tuesday 10, 2024, in Casablanca, Morocco.

Mr Aig-Imoukhuede, who is also the President of the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), will participate as a distinguished speaker on a strategic panel titled Connecting the Dots Between Investors and Issuers with AI and Fintech, with the session to be moderated by Senior Director at McKinsey and Company, Anass Bensrhir.

He will be joined by the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Nigeria), Mr Emomotimi John Agama; and the Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority in Egypt, Mr Mohamed Farid Saleh.

The panel will delve into critical topics such as cultivating a digital investment culture to attract investors and issuers, scaling digital investment products through traditional banking channels, and fostering strong collaboration between fintech innovators and regulators.

Mr Aig-Imoukhuede will share insights on how Coronation is developing digital infrastructure and frameworks to enable wealth creation at all levels—individual, organisational, and public sector—while influencing economic growth across the continent.

“At Coronation, we believe that wealth creation should be accessible to all, and technology is the key to making this a reality.

“Through AI and fintech, we aim to bridge the gap between investors and issuers, laying the foundation for a thriving financial ecosystem across Africa. The discussions at AFIS will be instrumental in driving this transformation,” he stated.

Mr Aig-Imoukhuede is a seasoned leader in the financial sector, with extensive experience in wealth management, investment strategy, and policy advocacy.

His leadership at Coronation Asset Management highlights his expertise in driving innovative investment strategies, advancing wealth management solutions, and fostering sustainable growth across Nigeria’s financial ecosystem and the broader African market.

Coronation’s participation at AFIS reflects its commitment to redefining financial services through innovation and partnerships.

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How to Stop Recycling of Criminals, Ex-Convicts—Onabulo

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By Emmanuel Udom

The president of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), Mr Olalekan Onabulo, has explained how the various justice systems could work to stop the recycling of criminals and ex-convicts in the country.

Speaking in his welcome address at the CRAN Public Lecture/Award ceremony held at Sheba Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, Mr Onabulo said that there is no denying the fact that the pursuit of justice and security is a shared responsibility that demands collective efforts and collaborations.

He further explained that since recidivism, which is the recycling of criminals and ex-convicts is a hydra-headed monster, which has become a significant source of concern for security agents in the country.

Security operatives are in most cases ambushed, killed or maimed by criminals earlier arrested, investigated and prosecuted who returned to a life of criminalities after their convictions.

According to the CRAN leader, these criminals are emboldened and unrepentant and may want to take their pounds of flesh from security operatives to carry out their professional duties.

Speaking on Justice System Administration and Security in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions, Mr Onabulo said all hands must be on deck to address the issue as the whole process seems to have failed and must be redeemed by all and sundry.

”The security operatives, the judiciary and indeed all Nigerians must collaborate and work together to create a safer, just, and equitable society for all,” he stated.

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NIWA to Collaborate With Coastal States to Secure Waterways

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has commenced moves to collaborate with coastal states across the country to increase the safety of Nigerians using the waterways to commute.

According to the waterways regulator, this is part of bids to enhance safety on the nation’s waterways.

This was disclosed by Mr Bola Oyebamiji, the Managing Director of NIWA while speaking at a one-day consultative forum on safety and insecurities on inland waterways, organiwed by the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners’ Forum in Ilorin, Kwara State on Thursday.

He emphasised the critical role that safety and security play in fostering a thriving water transportation system.

The conference, themed Prevalent Safety, Security Hazards and Practices in Inland Waterways: Passenger Transport Safety in Ilorin, Kwara State, sought to address the pressing issues facing the inland waterways sector.

Mr Oyebamiji acknowledged the ongoing efforts by NIWA to improve safety, such as the recent unveiling of the transportation code for public use, and the inauguration of several operational assets including survey boats, gunboats, water ambulances, and a passenger ferry.

He also noted that safety campaigns have been launched across all operational bases, targeting local communities in their native languages.

The NIWA boss highlighted the support from the National Assembly, including the ongoing discussions on establishing coastal guards and the attention safety and security on inland waterways have received from the House Committee on Inland Waterways.

He appealed to the Commissioners for Transportation across relevant states to collaborate with NIWA in areas such as training, safety campaigns, infrastructure development, and financial empowerment.

He also stressed that while the challenges are significant, they are surmountable through collective action, adding that the efforts must be complemented.

The NIWA MD expressed optimism for actionable and implementable outcomes from the forum, which he believes will contribute significantly to ensuring safer and more secure inland waterways in the country.

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