The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) and Oxfam have called for the full implementation of the Right to Food Act in Nigeria, stressing that the legislation is crucial to ending hunger and ensuring food security across the country.
Although the Act, which guarantees every Nigerian access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2023, it has yet to be put into full effect. The renewed call came during a high-level stakeholders’ dialogue on the Right to Food Act held in Lagos.
Michael David, Executive Director of GIFSEP, described the right to food as a fundamental human right and a necessary condition for national development. He lamented that food insecurity has plagued Nigeria since independence and blamed the lack of implementation of the Act for the country’s continued struggle with hunger and malnutrition.
“Despite numerous efforts, food insecurity persists because we have not turned policy into action,” David said. “The right to food is the freedom from hunger, and without it, millions remain trapped in poverty.”
David highlighted key challenges such as rising food costs, unemployment, and poor access to nutritious food as ongoing threats to the nation’s well-being. He emphasised the need for greater public awareness, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and accountable governance to achieve food security for all Nigerians.
He also praised the Lagos State Government for its proactive agricultural policies, noting the state’s support for farmers and access-driven initiatives as examples that other regions could follow.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo of the Fresh Food Hub welcomed the push for the Act’s full implementation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building sustainable food systems. She urged stakeholders to support and sustain efforts already underway.
Also at the event, Oxfam’s Country Director, John Makina, echoed the call for urgent action. He said that despite Nigeria’s abundant natural and human resources, millions continue to suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition. Makina cited United Nations data showing that over 20 million Nigerians are severely food insecure, with more than 21 percent of the population going hungry between 2020 and 2022.
Makina identified poverty, inequality, displacement, poor infrastructure, and climate change as key drivers of the crisis. He warned that unless the Right to Food Act is fully implemented, the country risks worsening hunger levels, especially among vulnerable groups.
Both organisations urged federal and state authorities to prioritise the implementation of the law, strengthen food systems, and guarantee that every Nigerian can access affordable and nutritious food as a basic human right.
Makina and David further stressed that food insecurity in Nigeria is not merely a humanitarian issue but a reflection of deep-rooted structural and policy failures. They argued that despite years of government interventions and donor-driven projects, the lack of political will to operationalise the Right to Food Act continues to stall progress.
“The law exists on paper, but the lives of ordinary Nigerians have not changed,” Makina said. “If we are serious about eradicating hunger, we must build the institutions, policies, and accountability systems to back this law. We must also fund it appropriately.”
Stakeholders at the dialogue emphasised that effective implementation of the Right to Food Act must go beyond legislation and focus on practical steps—such as investing in smallholder farmers, expanding access to agricultural inputs and credit, improving food distribution networks, and addressing post-harvest losses.
They also called for stronger climate resilience measures to mitigate the effects of erratic weather patterns and flooding on food production. According to the participants, Nigeria’s food systems are increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks, which threaten to undo decades of progress in agriculture and nutrition.
“There is a need to embed food as a core component of national security,” David said. “Food insecurity fuels conflict, drives migration, and weakens social cohesion. If people cannot eat, peace becomes fragile.”
The forum ended with a joint declaration urging the Federal Government to prioritise food as a legal right rather than a privilege, and to allocate sufficient resources to implement the Right to Food Act at all levels—federal, state, and local. Participants also called on civil society organisations, the private sector, and the international community to step up their advocacy and technical support to drive the Act’s implementation.
In response, representatives from the Lagos Ministry of Agriculture pledged to continue championing food accessibility through innovation, youth engagement in agribusiness, and partnerships with local communities. They highlighted the state’s investments in urban farming, food hubs, and digital platforms aimed at enhancing traceability and reducing food waste.
Despite the challenges, the dialogue closed on an optimistic note, with renewed commitments from stakeholders to work collaboratively towards a hunger-free Nigeria. The consensus was clear: without political commitment, sustainable investment, and grassroots engagement, the Right to Food Act risks becoming another unrealised promise.
The event served as both a reminder and a rallying cry—ensuring food as a right is not just about feeding people today, but about laying the foundation for a healthier, more equitable, and more resilient Nigeria.
