Hunger and Poverty Now Major Security Threats in Nigeria, Say Officials

Hunger and Poverty Now Major Security Threats in Nigeria, Say Officials
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Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has identified hunger and poverty as key drivers of insecurity, calling for urgent action to address them. Speaking at a security seminar in Abuja, Ribadu—represented by Maj Gen Peter Mala—warned that poverty and food insecurity fuel violence, crime, and social unrest.

Themed “Combating Hunger and Poverty for Sustainable Peace,” the seminar emphasized the need for agricultural reform, social investment, and coordinated security strategies. Ribadu noted that the government is prioritizing food security and infrastructure to break the cycle of poverty and insecurity.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Christopher Musa, represented by Rear Adm Ibrahim Shetimma, echoed the warning, citing disruptions to farming and rural migration as causes of rising food inflation and national instability.

Defence Minister Muhammed Badaru and AANDEC President Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (retd) urged a comprehensive, people-focused approach, including education, youth empowerment, and grassroots investment to tackle the root causes of insecurity.