8.1m Nigerians In Critical Condition As Food Security Emergencies Soar

FOOD security emergencies are shooting up around the chronic conflict points of the globe, with 8.1 million people in Northern Nigeria, already facing acute food insecurity. But, global food supply conditions are however, robust, though access to food has been dramatically reduced in areas suffering civil conflicts, while drought conditions are worsening food security across swathes of East Africa, according to the new edition of Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Crop Prospects and Food Situation report. Around 37 countries require external assistance for food, 28 of them in Africa as a result of lingering effects of last year's El Niño-triggered droughts on harvests in 2016. Yet, while agricultural production is expected to rebound in southern Africa, protracted fighting and unrest is increasing the ranks of the displaced and hungry in other parts of the world. Famine has been formally declared in South Sudan and the food security situation is of grave concern in northern Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen. “This is an unprecedented situation. Never before have we been faced with 4 threats of famine in multiple countries simultaneously,” said FAO Assistant Director-General Kostas Stamoulis, head of the Economic and Social Development department. “It demands swift action which should consist of immediate food assistance but also livelihood support to ensure that such situations are not repeated.” In South Sudan, 100,000 people were facing famine in Leer and Mayendit Counties, part of former Unity State, while there was an "elevated risk" that similar conditions existed in two nearby counties. Overall, about 4.9 million people across the country were classified as facing crisis, emergency or famine. That number is projected to increase to 5.5 million, or almost half the country's population, at the peak of the lean season in July. In Northern Nigeria, 8.1 million people are facing acute food insecurity conditions and require urgent life-saving response and livelihood protection. That comes despite the above-average cereal harvest in 2016 and reflects the disruption caused by conflict as well as the sharp depreciation of the Naira. In Yemen, 17 million people or two-thirds of the population are estimated to be food insecure, while almost half of them are in need of emergency assistance, with the report noting that "the risk of famine declaration in the country is very high." In Somalia, the combination of conflict, civil insecurity and drought have resulted in more than double the number of people - now estimated at 2.9 million - being severely food insecure from six months ago. Drought has curtailed fodder for pastoralists and the third consecutive season of poor rainfall is estimated to have reduced crop production in southern and central regions to 70 percent below average levels, leaving food stocks depleted. Conflicts and civil unrest in Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Myanmar and Syria are also exacerbating food insecurity conditions for millions of people as well affecting nearby countries hosting refugees. In addition, the drought in East Africa in late 2016 has heightened food insecurity in several countries in the sub-region. Worldwide Trends Cereal production made quite strong gains in the world overall in 2016, with a record recovery in Central America, and larger cereal crops in Asia, Europe and North America. Looking ahead, FAO's first global wheat production forecast for 2017 points to a 1.8 percent decline from last year's record level, due mostly to a projected 20 percent output drop in the United States of America, where the area sown to winter wheat is the lowest level in over 100 years. Prospects are favourable for the 2017 maize crop in Brazil and Argentina and the outlook is generally positive for coarse grains throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Prospects for rice are mixed, but it is still too early to make firm predictions for many of the world's major crops. Maize harvests in Southern Africa, slashed by El Niño, are forecast to recover this year, with South Africa's output expected to increase by more than 50 percent from 2016, with positive trends likely in most nearby countries. However, an outbreak of armyworms, along with localized flooding in Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, could limit larger production gains in 2017. The 37 countries currently in need of external food assistance are Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Wike Fumes, Says FG Neglecting Rivers

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Nigeria’s oil and gas capital, has accused the Federal Government of playing a dangerous politics of neglect with the strategic state in development projects. Rivers has been a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999. Efforts by former leaders of the party who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dislodged the party has not yet paid off. It appears, starving the state of development projects is the way the lords of the APC in Abuja, are trying to arm-twist the rich oil and gas state to dump the PDP in exchange for juicy political patronages. Apparently unshaken by the political antics of the APC, Governor Wike is firing at Abuja, claiming that they have abdicated their responsibility of projects execution in Nigeria’s oil and gas capital, because the state does not allegedly matter in their development programme. The governor said his administration has taken over Federal Government’s responsibilities in Rivers, not because they have excess resources, ‘’but because we are committed to the rapid development of the state’’. He was speaking on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the National Industrial Court which will be funded by the state government. ‘’All the facts point to the fact that Rivers State does not count in the development programmes of the Federal Government. And this has sadly been the situation for decades. Yet, we produced the bulk of the resources that are sustaining the entire country and funding multi-billion Naira development projects in other states of the federation. ‘’And so, our position is that, while we shall continue to demand for a fair treatment and commensurate recompense for our contributions to the national pool of resources, we cannot but endeavour to put our development destiny in our own hands, even if it means spending money on projects that should be initiated, funded and maintained by the federal government or its agencies’’, Wike said. Continuing, he said, ‘’the point needs to be made that, we are taking these important steps and bearing such huge costs because of the need to create, recreate and reinforce the enabling social and economic environment for the continuous development of our state. ‘’It is not because we have too much money to throw around on federal projects; it is because of our love, passion and commitment to develop our State, because we realized that the federal government has since abdicated its development responsibility to Rivers.’’ He pointed out that the state under his watch is embarking on the project because 90 percent of the cases in the Yenagoa Division of the National Industrial Court emanate from Rivers, adding that the project when completed will serve the purpose of creating access to justice for litigants and also reflect the transformational legacies of the PDP in Rivers. Wike has therefore, noted the need therefore to have a functional NIC in Port Harcourt to peacefully settle labour and industrial relations disputes, enhance industrial harmony and engender economic development cannot be overstated. President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo said the governor has shown his colleagues the way to go by his commitment to the project. He said when the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt comes on stream, it will resolve the challenges and risks faced by litigants from Rivers who are compelled to travel to Bayelsa and Imo States. He commended Governor Wike for agreeing to fund the federal project, pointing out that the Rivers people are the ones who bear the brunt of the absence of the National Industrial Court. He also commended the governor for service delivery, assuring that the National Industrial Court will give justice to all manner of people. He informed that two judges have been transferred to the state to work in two courtrooms allocated by the Rivers Chief Judge. In a goodwill message, former NBA President, Chief Onueze Okocha said the project will advance the course of justice in the state. He regretted that the National Industrial Court was closed down by the immediate past administration in the state, leading to its relocation to Bayelsa State. The state Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyayi-Lamikanra and the state Attorney General, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) lauded the governor for investing in justice delivery through the provision of quality facilities for the judiciary. The NIC under construction by the state government is a five storey building occupying a total floor area of 920 square metres, with four court rooms, judges’ chambers, car parks, lifts and all other facilities that fully guarantee the comfort, functionality and safety of the court and its personnel. Aside the NIC, the state government is constructing the Federal High Court Complex which is nearing completion. The NIC will be completed in December this year. By Akanimo Sampson

NIGER DELTA SHAKING AGAIN!

DESPITE the trouble-shooting initiative of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, and the heightened security activities in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s main oil and gas region, the area can easily cycle into a new wave arms rebellion. The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) of freedom fighters in the volatile oil region has warned that Nigeria’s honey comb is capable of being angry with former President Goodluck Jonathan. Spokesperson for the insurgents platform, Cynthia Whyte, in an online statement on Tuesday, added that the same Niger Delta can also boil because of Jonathan. ‘’For his sake, we may be forced to question the laws of gravity. It is simple physics’’, the insurgents said. According to them, ‘’one of the challenges of the Muhammadu Buhari government to get it right with respect to the Niger Delta has been as a result of the antics of satanic elements within the rank and file of agitating groups in the Niger Delta. They are everywhere in the polity today. ‘’Many of them are hardened criminals, unrepentant crooks and workers of grim iniquity. They exist to con and to mislead. They do that for a living. They cannot be saved. They remain eternally condemned. ‘’The Niger Delta cannot rise at the price that Nigeria now offers’’. They are however, of the view that there is good reason to believe that Osinbajo has shown good intellect and a comfortable measure of wisdom. ‘’In the past few months, he had said the right words and a good number of people in the Niger Delta have expressed satisfaction with his utterances’’, the group said. Continuing, they added, ‘’we will continue to watch with cautious optimism. Yet again, we sometimes wonder, where was all that intellect and wisdom when his principal was on the saddle. ‘’It is important that we commend former President Jonathan for watering the ground much before the trip by Osinbajo. It was Goodluck Jonathan who made Osinbajo's trip a success. ‘’In December 2016, former President Goodluck Jonathan visited Gbaramatu for the presentation of staff to the new paramount ruler of Gbaramatu, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe Agadagba by the Governor of Delta State. ‘’It is truly difficult to understand why a Goodluck Jonathan, whose tenure has been so vilified, to want to work for the success of the same people who have continued to work so hard to disparage and denigrate him’’.