‘Food crisis may last longer than predicted’

Akin Olotu, an agriculture expert, has warned that the current food crisis in the country may worsen in the months ahead if the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not address the problem of climate change in the country.

Mr. Olotu, who is also a former senior special assistant on Agric and Agricbusiness to late Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, said the current climatic condition in the country is not favourable to farmers and farming activities.

He gave the warning at the annual lecture series and award evening of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ondo chapter, held in Akure.

“In the months ahead, there would be more food crisis. The present climatic condition is not favourable to farming activities. Something has to be done. Food crisis is still ahead, and President Tinubu has to set targets for the state and local councils,” Mr. Olotu added.

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According to him, the only way out of the crisis is for President Tinubu’s government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agriculture productivity in the country.

While stressing that previous warnings on food crisis were ignored by the government, Mr. Olotu explained that the earlier prediction by the United Nations that about 82 million Nigerians, which is 64 per cent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030, is true.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tayo Oluwatuyi, said his administration has embarked on several initiatives to boost food production in the state and improve the welfare of the citizens.