Tag: United Nations

Food Crisis: ’82m Nigerians may go hungry soon’, UN warns

Aminu Imam
Food at markets

The United Nations (UN), has again predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 percent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030, calling on the Government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity. The prediction comes in the wake of a persistent hike in food prices in the country. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), Nigeria’s food inflation rate hit a record high of 40.66 per cent in May 2024, surpassing the previous month’s 40.53 increase. This surge represents the largest year-on-year…

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Acute food insecurity expected to worsen in Nigeria, 17 other countries – UN

Aminu Imam
UN on food security

According to a recent United Nations (UN) report, acute food insecurity is projected to significantly worsen in 18 hunger “hotspots,” including Nigeria. The report highlights the urgent need for assistance to prevent famine in Gaza and Sudan and address escalating hunger crises in Haiti, Mali, and South Sudan. The report stresses the ongoing effects of El Niño and the looming risk of La Niña, which could trigger extreme climate events that disrupt lives and livelihoods. It states: “Since the previous edition of the Hunger Hotspots report (October 2023), the Central…

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“2023, a year of violence, suffering, poverty, climate catastrophes” — UN Secretary-General, Guterres

Aminu Imam

Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres, expressed deep concern over the significant suffering, violence, and climate-related catastrophes experienced globally throughout 2023. In his New Year’s 2024 message Guterres highlighted 2023 as the hottest year on record, stating, “Humanity is in pain. Our planet is in peril. People are getting crushed by growing poverty and hunger. Wars are growing in number and ferocity. And trust is in short supply”. Guterres said that assigning blame or resorting to violence will not yield progress. He urged humanity to unite across differences…

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UN marks anniversary of #EndSARS protest

Aminu Imam

The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, joined other human rights organisation to mark the second anniversary of the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria. Bachelet called on the Nigerian authorities to address the root causes of the protests and ensure accountability for human rights violations, according to a statement. “In the #EndSARS protests, the Nigerian people demanded an end to police brutality and extrajudicial killings,” Bachelet said. “The protests faced a harsh crackdown, leading to the deaths of at least 56 people, including 12 at the Lekki…

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Humanitarian crisis in Benue worse than situation in North East – UN

Aminu Imam

The United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mathias Shemale has expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Benue state saying it is worse than the situation in Borno State. Shemale made the observation when he led a delegation on a courtesy call on Governor Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. The Resident Coordinator assured of providing immediate humanitarian needs for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the state while also looking at ways of ensuring the return of the displaced persons to their ancestral homes. He urged…

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North-East ‘one step away from famine’ – UN

Aminu Imam

The United Nations, (UN) has warned that about 4.3 million people were facing severe hunger this year in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, the three States worst-affected by insurgency. Over 40,000 people have been killed and two million more displaced in fighting between the security agencies and the terrorists’ group, including Boko Haram, over the last 14 years. UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, said the international community must act fast to prevent the situation becoming even more catastrophic.

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Cholera threatens 1bn people from Nigeria, 42 countries – UN raises alarm

Aminu Imam

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) say 43 countries, including Nigeria, now face outbreaks as increasing numbers of cholera cases are reported. In an issued statement on Friday, the UN agencies said that after years of steady decline, cholera was making a devastating comeback and targeting the world’s most vulnerable communities. According to Head of UNICEF’s Public Health Emergency unit, Jérôme Pfaffmann Zambruni, “The pandemic is killing the poor right in front of us”. Echoing the bleak outlook, WHO data indicates that by May 2022, 15…

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UN warns against hate speech during election season  

Aminu Imam

The UN has advised Nigerians to eschew hate speeches during the forthcoming election season to guard against electoral violence and related crimes. UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Nderitu, offered the advice in Abuja on Friday when she briefed reporters in the course of her official visit to Nigeria. Nderitu was speaking against the backdrop of the forthcoming 2023 general elections, beginning on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2023. She said the country’s electoral process had since 1999 proven a commitment to democratic values.…

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Insecurity: “Conduct counter-terrorism operations”, UN urges Nigerian Authorities 

Aminu Imam

United Nations (UN) Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Nderitu, has urged the Nigerian authorities to conduct counter-terrorism operations in line with international human rights and humanitarian law. Nderitu, who voiced concern over the seemingly worsening security situation in Nigeria on Thursday, urged the authorities to address the killings. She condemned the Jan. 24 airstrike in which at least 40 herders, mainly ethnic Fulani, were killed, with scores of other civilians were injured in a village on the border of two States of Nasarawa and Benue. The…

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UN warns against worsening security situation in Nigeria

Aminu Imam

The United Nations (UN) has warned against the worsening security situation in Nigeria. The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, has expressed this concern on Thursday, while urging Nigerian authorities to ensure counter-terrorism operations are conducted in line with international human rights and humanitarian law. This worsening security situation, she noted, is characterised by the politicisation of trans-humance, which is the seasonal movement of livestock for grazing – and increasing divisions among communities, including based on stigmatisation along religious and ethnic lines. She also condemned the…

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