Middle East crisis drives global food price surge, WFP warns of increased hunger
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The World Food Programme WFP has warned that an escalating crisis in the Middle East is causing global food, fuel, and transport costs to rise, potentially pushing millions more people into hunger. Households across Africa and Asia are already experiencing the effects of increased prices due to strained supply chains, higher shipping costs, and delays in the movement of essential goods. In Nigeria's capital, Abuja, a market trader noted that 5,000 naira can barely buy anything, while in Somalia, residents report daily increases in transport and food costs. Parts of Asia, including Myanmar, are also affected, with staple foods becoming more expensive, particularly in remote and conflict-affected areas still recovering from the 2025 earthquake. WFP's Director of Supply Chain, Corinne Fleischer, stated that supply chain disruptions lead to higher food prices, severely impacting families who spend 50 to 70 percent of their income on food. The agency estimates that up to 45 million additional people could face hunger if the crisis persists, bringing the global total to approximately 363 million, with nearly two-thirds of those at risk located in Africa and Asia. Humanitarian operations are also becoming more expensive, reducing the reach of food assistance. The crisis is impacting agriculture and trade, threatening fertilizer supplies and livestock exports in East Africa, and causing smallholder farmers in parts of Asia to reduce planting due to rising costs. WFP is adapting its o
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The Osun State Government has cautioned the state police command against succumbing to alleged political pressure regarding a suspected bandit linked to the Lameco area. The government warned against attempts to secure the suspect's release on unsubstantiated psychiatric grounds. This reaction follows allegations by the Public Safety Accountability Group, a civil society organization, which accused high-profile members of the All Progressives Congress APC in the state of pressuring the police for the suspect's release on medical grounds. The group claimed that certain APC chieftains had visited police stations and sent emissaries to facilitate the release, viewing this as an attempt to undermine efforts to dismantle a criminal gang. The police had previously confirmed the suspect was undergoing psychiatric evaluation, stating an herbalist had reportedly treated him for mental illness for 10 years, but did not address the alleged involvement of APC leaders. The Osun State Government, through a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, on X, urged the police to remain vigilant against actions that could undermine public confidence and questioned the medical report, the herbalist's identity, and the alleged visits by APC chieftains. The government also questioned the timing of the police's response and warned against the politicization of a sensitive security matter, calling on the Inspector-General of Police and other se
The Fertilizer and Agro-Allied Dealers Association FADA, Plateau State chapter, has expressed concern over the increasing circulation of fake and adulterated fertilisers in markets across the state. Mr. Geoffrey Monday Bisat, Chairman of FADA in Plateau State, stated that this trend threatens food production and farmers' livelihoods, especially as farmers are already facing significant post-harvest losses, declining prices for farm produce, and rising agricultural input costs. Bisat warned that fake fertilisers reduce crop yields and pose a serious threat to food security. He urged farmers to buy from approved, reputable, and registered dealers and to report cases of fake fertiliser distribution to security and regulatory agencies. Bisat also noted that the rising prices of fertilisers are due to global market disruptions and geopolitical tensions, not local dealers, and expressed hope for price stabilization with improved global conditions. FADA reaffirmed its commitment to providing genuine fertilisers and called on government agencies and stakeholders to combat fake products to protect the future of farming in the state.
The Federal Government of Nigeria and its development partners have emphasized the need for sustained reforms, increased investment, and stronger partnerships to enhance urban water supply and sanitation services nationwide. This call was made at a workshop in Abuja on 'Urban Water Supply Sector Reform in Nigeria: Progresses, Challenges, and Way Forward'. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted that Nigeria must intensify efforts to address challenges in water and sanitation service delivery, noting that increasing water scarcity, population growth, climate change variability, and financing gaps threaten the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation. The workshop, organized by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in collaboration with the World Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and the European Union, received financial support from France through the Agence Française de Développement. Ambassador of France to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Marc Fonbaustier, reaffirmed France's commitment, stating that the Agence Française de Développement has committed over 300 million euros in water sector investments across seven Nigerian states over the past decade. While acknowledging significant progress through past programs, Utsev noted that an estimated 30% of citizens still lack access to basic water supply and 56% lack basic sanitation services. Mahamadou Diarra, Deputy Country Director of th