General
Nigeria Hunger Crisis Worsens, Hits Lake Chad Basin
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Few days ago, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) raised an alarm of food crisis in northeast Nigeria caused by activities of Boko Haram militants.
It warned then that if nothing urgent was done, it could become worse.
However, on Friday, the FAO further warned that the food security situation in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin is drastically deteriorating as conflict and instability continue.
The agency has called for swift and decisive action from the international community to protect the livelihoods of millions of families dependent on farming, livestock and fishing for their food and livelihoods.
It said with the next planting season starting in May, and with scarcity of animal fodder and water points during the lean season, it is crucial that crop seeds, tools and livestock support reach families urgently to limit the scope of the deepening crisis that now involves four countries: Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.
Some 7.1 million people are now severely food insecure across the four countries. Among them are 515,000 children who are suffering from severe acute malnutrition – a condition which, if untreated, can lead to permanent damage to a child’s development and even death.
FAO is among the UN agencies and governments attending the Oslo Humanitarian Conference today, organized to mobilize international funding for the crisis-struck region, where 80 to 90 percent of people rely on farming, fishing and herding for their livelihoods.
“In the worst-affected areas, famine continues to loom — and millions will remain trapped in cycles of severe hunger if we don’t enable farmers to start cropping now,” said Dominique Burgeon, Director of FAO’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Division, who is representing FAO at the conference. “Our collective efforts cannot be limited to merely avoiding massive famine – they need to allow people to return to a dignified life. And supporting agriculture is the key to both,” he said.
Besides reducing hunger and boosting nutrition, investing in farmers also provides much needed job opportunities that reduce migration and limit the potential for radicalization of unemployed youth, according to Burgeon.
Crisis spilling across borders
Violence related to the armed group Boko Haram in north eastern Nigeria has spilled over to parts of neighbouring countries in the Lake Chad Basin – specifically, Cameroon’s Far North, western Chad and south eastern Niger – with devastating effects on food security and livelihoods.
With the Lake Chad Basin approaching a critical period in the agricultural calendar, FAO is urgently calling for $30 million in immediate emergency support to help farming families in the four countries get ready to plant in the upcoming May planting season and prevent them from slipping into long-term dependency on food aid.
It said a total of $232 million will be needed to secure food production and access to food for three million people in the worst-hit areas over the next three years. The vast majority of the requested funds – some $191 million – is designated for Nigeria, which is bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Violence and displacement drive severe hunger
Violence has driven millions across the four countries from their homes and hampered access to agricultural lands and assets, creating massive humanitarian needs in an area already struggling with food insecurity, poverty and environmental degradation. Host communities, in particular, have been struggling for several years now to feed the displaced as well as their own.
As humanitarian access improves, revealing the magnitude of impact of the conflict, time has come to support both people who remained on their land and those who decide to return to their original livelihoods.
In Borno State alone, the population in crisis, emergency and catastrophe phases of food insecurity (Phases 3 to 5 on the five-tiered scale used by humanitarian agencies) increased from 2 million in August 2016 to 3.3 million in October-December 2016. The worst-affected in this group are not able to feed themselves and have exhausted all resources by selling off their belongings, including seeds, tools and animals. Without intervention, that number is expected to climb to 3.6 million at the height of the lean season in August 2017.
The UN foresees around 120 000 people facing famine conditions in Nigeria. Of this number, the vast majority – some 96 percent — are expected to be in Borno.
Targeting the most vulnerable
Emergency farming assistance must go hand in hand with food assistance for it to be successful throughout the upcoming lean season. To this end, FAO is collaborating with the World Food Programme to ensure vulnerable families — mainly IDPs and host communities — receive food assistance, and at the same time agriculture-based livelihood support in the form of provision of seeds, tools and fertilizer. This way, they will able to restore and protect their livelihoods and farming assets for ongoing food production.
FAO’s long-term strategy for the Lake Chad region puts a special emphasis on supporting refugees, internally displaced families and host communities, as these are the most vulnerable groups in this crisis. Interventions are geared to improving their food security and nutrition and building their resilience so they are better equipped to handle future shocks. In addition, restoring agriculture-based livelihoods will offer a unique opportunity to pave the way to recovery and peace in the affected areas.
The strategy incorporates not only provision of farming and livestock inputs but also technical training, cash transfers, instruction in natural resource management, and support in setting up community-managed funds that can reduce vulnerability to shocks.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day respectively.
The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.
The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the Minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Mr Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security and national progress.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Business Post reports that on these public holidays – the foreign exchange market, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), as well as the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange will not open to trade.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Local crude oil refiner, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has kicked against attempts to put consumers of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, under untold hardship in the country.
The company, which commenced nationwide sales of the product at a pump price of N739 per litre across all MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations, appealed to Nigerians to report any of its marketers who sell above this price.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable.
“We urge regulatory authorities to remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period,” the Lagos-based refinery said in a statement.
It noted that the significant price reduction was part of its mission to deliver affordable fuel to consumers and stabilize the downstream petroleum market.
With over 2,000 MRS stations nationwide, the new pricing is expected to be implemented across all outlets, ensuring that the benefits of this reduction reach consumers nationwide.
Dangote Refinery applauded marketers who have embraced the new pricing regime and urged others to follow suit in the interest of national economic recovery.
“We commend MRS and other marketers who have demonstrated patriotism by reflecting the reduced price at the pump. We call on others to join this effort as a show of support for Nigeria’s economic recovery,” the refinery stated.
Historically, the festive season has been associated with fuel scarcity and sharp price hikes. However, Dangote Refinery has delivered a decisive market intervention—crashing pump prices at a time when Nigerians typically brace for hardship. Backed by a guaranteed daily supply of 50 million litres, this initiative fundamentally alters the supply dynamics during the holiday period.
By refining locally at scale, the refinery is reducing Nigeria’s exposure to volatile global markets, conserving foreign exchange, stabilizing the Naira, and strengthening energy security. This sustained price cut and steady supply are providing relief to households, businesses, and transport operators nationwide.
Consumers were advised to resist purchasing fuel at inflated prices when cheaper, high-quality alternatives are readily available.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid buying PMS at excessively high prices when they can access locally refined fuel at N739 per litre from over 2,000 MRS stations nationwide. Report any MRS station selling above N739 per litre by calling 0800 123 5264,” the refinery said.
“We also call on other petrol station operators to patronize our products so that the benefits of this price reduction can be passed on to Nigerians across all outlets, ensuring broad-based relief and a more stable downstream market,” it added, reaffirming its commitment to steady supply, price moderation, and energy security, emphasizing that its operations are anchored on long-term national interest rather than short-term market pressures.
“Our objective remains clear: to ensure consistent supply of high-quality petroleum products at affordable prices for Nigerians, while supporting economic stability and reducing dependence on imports,” the refinery concluded.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government’s approval of N185 billion as the settlement for long standing debts owed to gas producers in the country has been described as a major boost for Nigeria’s gas industry and power generation value chain.
The decision, endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, followed the authorisation by President Bola Tinubu and represents one of the most significant fiscal interventions in the energy sector in recent years.
The legacy debts, accumulated over years for gas supplied to power plants, have constrained cash flow for producers, discouraged new investments and reduced gas supply to electricity generation, worsening Nigeria’s chronic power shortages.
Under the approved framework, the debts will be settled through a royalty-offset arrangement, a mechanism expected to ease government liabilities while restoring confidence among domestic and international gas suppliers.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the approval as a turning point for the sector.
“This is a decisive step towards revitalising Nigeria’s gas sector and strengthening its power-generation capacity in a sustainable manner,” Mr Ekpo said, adding that the move aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to resolving structural bottlenecks in the energy industry.
He noted that clearing the arrears would help rebuild trust between government and gas producers, many of whom had slowed investments due to persistent payment uncertainties.
“Settling these debts is critical to restoring investor confidence, reviving upstream activities and accelerating exploration and production,” Mr Ekpo stated.
According to him, increased gas output would directly translate into improved power generation, helping to address electricity shortages that have long constrained industrial productivity and economic growth.
The gas minister further explained that the intervention supports the Federal Government’s Decade of Gas initiative, which targets unlocking more than 12 billion cubic feet per day of gas supply by 2030.
On his part, the Coordinating Director of the Decade of Gas Secretariat, Mr Ed Ubong, said the decision sends a strong signal to investors across the gas-to-power value chain.
“This approval underlines the Federal Government’s determination to clear legacy liabilities and assure gas producers that supplies to power generation will be honoured,” Mr Ubong said.
He added that the move could unlock stalled projects, revive investor interest and rebuild momentum toward Nigeria’s transition to a gas-driven economy.
The settlement could mark a critical step in stabilising gas supply to power plants, improving electricity reliability and positioning gas as a catalyst for industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
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