Key Points

• Rising food prices push families into daily struggle.

• Hunger increases crime, school dropouts, and anger.

• Food security must become part of national security plans.

For years, the country has talked about insecurity in terms of guns, uniforms, and violence. The focus has been on terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and clashes between communities.

But a different danger is spreading across homes and streets. It does not carry weapons. It comes with empty plates and tired bodies. Hunger is now one of Nigeria’s biggest security problems.

How Hunger Is Changing Daily Life

Today, many families judge their safety by what they can eat, not just by whether there is fighting nearby.

Parents miss meals so their children can eat. Workers spend almost all their income on food and still come up short.

Young people wander the streets looking for any way to survive, not because they want trouble, but because they are desperate.

Hunger breaks the body, weakens the mind, and slowly kills hope. It can be as destructive as violence.

Why Food Is Now Out Of Reach

Food has become expensive, while wages stay the same or disappear completely. Jobs are scarce. Inflation keeps rising.

In many places, food is available in the market, but people cannot afford to buy it. Farmers are also struggling.

Insecurity keeps them away from their farms. Climate problems affect crops. Fertiliser and transport cost more. All of this reduces food supply and drives prices higher.

City dwellers face another problem. Their income no longer matches the cost of living. The result is hunger that cuts across tribe, religion, and political party.

Hunger And Social Breakdown

Hunger does not exist in isolation. It changes how people behave. When people cannot eat well, crime becomes more tempting.

Children drop out of school. More young people take up street work. Trust in government falls. Anger grows. History shows that empty stomachs often lead to unrest.

In this way, hunger becomes more than a social problem. It becomes a threat to national stability.

Weak And Short-Term Responses

Government efforts so far have not matched the scale of the crisis. Food handouts come and go. They are often poorly shared and sometimes used for politics.

Real solutions take longer and need steady action. Farming must become safer and more productive. Storage and transport must improve so food does not waste.

The economy must be stabilised so prices stop jumping. Jobs must be created so people can earn enough to eat properly. Food security should be treated as part of security planning, not just charity.

A Call For New Thinking

Nigeria needs a new way of thinking. Hunger cannot be solved with police patrols or military spending alone.

A country cannot arrest its way out of starvation. Leaders must protect farmers, support local food production, and make policies that lower food prices.

Support programmes should be clear, fair, and long-term, not short-term gestures.

Why Feeding The Nation Means Securing It

A nation is strongest when its people are fed. When people eat well, they work better, think clearly, and are less likely to be pushed into crime or violence.

If hunger is ignored, every other security effort will remain weak. Hunger is now part of Nigeria’s insecurity story. Treating it lightly is a risk the country cannot continue to take.