President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, has issued a stark warning regarding the precarious state of food security in Nigeria, attributing it to the pervasive insecurity gripping the nation.
Archbishop Ugorji voiced his concerns while inaugurating a week-long training and empowerment workshop on agriculture in Aboh Mbaise, aptly titled “it’s farm o’clock for Mbaise people.”
Highlighting the nexus between insecurity and food production, Archbishop Ugorji lamented that farmers’ inability to access their lands due to security challenges has led to a decline in food production, exacerbating hunger across the country.
“Government intervention is imperative to address the prevailing insecurity if we are to achieve food sufficiency in our lifetime,” urged Archbishop Ugorji, emphasizing the urgent need for decisive action to avert a potential humanitarian crisis.
He lauded the efforts of Rev. Fr. Pius Ibeawuchi and Mr. Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie in promoting agricultural initiatives, advocating for a shift from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture to alleviate the burden of high food prices.
Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie, a co-sponsor of the workshop, underscored the critical role of agriculture in mitigating the escalating cost of food items, pledging to prioritize agricultural development to foster socio-economic growth and stability.
Rev. Fr. Pius Ibeawuchi, the proprietor of the farm hosting the workshop, expressed satisfaction with the participation of over 250 individuals, affirming their readiness to apply newfound knowledge in the upcoming farming season.
