Hunger and food insecurity are serious problems in many African countries. These challenges are caused by conflict, climate change, economic instability, and weak farming systems.

The March 2024 Cadre Harmonisé food security report by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) showed that nearly 55 million people in West and Central Africa were expected to face severe food shortages during the June to August 2024 lean season.

This is four million more than the November 2023 forecast and four times higher than five years ago. Data from the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) by Statista also shows that several African countries continue to face severe hunger and malnutrition. The following countries are the most affected:

5. Niger

Hunger Index Score: 34.1

Niger is severely affected by hunger because of its fast-growing population, political instability, and climate problems.

The rapid population growth in Niger increases the demand for food, but resources are limited. Erratic rainfall and desertification have reduced food production. Armed insurgencies along its borders have displaced communities and disrupted farming activities. Over 4.3 million people in Niger were at risk of hunger in 2024.

4. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Hunger Index Score: 34.9 (Alarming)

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is experiencing one of the world’s largest hunger crises. Conflict, poverty, and weak farming systems are the main causes.

Violence in the eastern regions of the DRC has displaced millions of people, disrupting farming and food distribution. Economic instability, including high inflation and unemployment, makes food unaffordable for many. The DRC has fertile land, but farming remains underdeveloped due to a lack of investment. About 26.4 million people in the DRC face hunger.

3. Madagascar

Hunger Index Score: 36.3

Madagascar faces severe food insecurity caused by climate change. Droughts and cyclones have damaged farms, especially in the southern regions.

The southern part of Madagascar is facing its worst drought in decades, known as a “climate famine.” Poverty makes it hard for people to recover from crop losses or buy food. Chronic malnutrition affects almost half of the children in Madagascar, stunting their growth and development. Over 1.5 million people were hungry in Madagascar in 2024.

2. Chad:

Hunger Index Score: 36.4

Chad is the second most affected country. Its weak farming system, political instability, and harsh climate make food access very difficult.

Unpredictable rainfall and desertification have reduced crop production in Chad. Conflicts in neighbouring countries have forced many refugees into Chad, which puts extra pressure on the country’s resources. Poor infrastructure, such as bad roads, makes it hard to deliver food and aid to those in need. About 4.7 million people in Chad face hunger.

1. Somalia

Hunger Index Score: 44.1

Somalia is the most affected country in Africa. It suffers from long-term conflict, harsh weather such as droughts and floods, and weak government support.

The ongoing conflict in Somalia disrupts farming and food distribution. Armed groups prevent people from accessing resources. Frequent droughts destroy crops and kill livestock, leaving millions struggling to survive. Nearly half of Somalia’s population relies on food aid to meet basic needs.

The Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has sentenced Chima Hyginus Nkwocha, popularly known as “Young Billionaire,” to prison for cheating by impersonation and money laundering.

Nkwocha was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Emeka Nwite on a two-count charge.

The charges included impersonating several individuals to defraud an American, Linda Wheeler, of $345,000, and laundering the funds through a Nigerian bank account.

One of the charges against Nkwocha detailed how he impersonated multiple aliases, including Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt, using Gmail and Google Voice accounts.

The charge read: “That you, Chima Hyginus Nkwocha (AKA Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown & Chettot), sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate… with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtaining a cumulative sum of $345,000 from Linda Wheeler, an American.”

Nkwocha pleaded guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

Evidence and Recovery

The EFCC’s counsel, Lanre Adeola Olarewaju, reviewed the case and detailed the items recovered during Nkwocha’s arrest in August 2024 in Abuja’s Lugbe area.

Recovered items included:

A black Mercedes Benz ML 350 (registration no. B-2);

Two gold necklaces with pendants, a gold bracelet, and $2,200 in cash;

₦90,280,934.00 in a Zenith Bank account belonging to Ginux Global Nigeria Limited, where Nkwocha was the sole signatory.

Additionally, the EFCC seized:

A three-bedroom terrace duplex at Cookies Court 2, Ocean Palm Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos;

A three-bedroom bungalow and two self-contained apartments at Standard Estate, Galadima, Abuja;

A plot of land measuring 300 square meters at Eko Beach City, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Justice Emeka Nwite, after reviewing the evidence and Nkwocha’s guilty plea, convicted him on both counts.

Nigeria has called on the United Nations to investigate the funding and training of the Boko Haram terrorists.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, made the call in a recent interview he had with Al-Jazeera.

Musa said there was international flow of funding for the terrorists, stressing the need for the UN to come in to trace and track it.

The defence chief, who questioned how the insurgents had sustained themselves for 15 years, also fingered international conspiracy in providing the terrorists with funds, training and equipment.

Daily Trust reports that the CDS’ call on the international community for investigation came at the wake of a new trick by Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists who are now deploying drones for surveillance ahead of launching attacks on security operatives.

Responding to a question on why Boko Haram has kept regrouping despite the claims by the federal government that the sect has been degraded, the CDS said: “The problem is that I think we have talked to the international community. Let’s find out the funding. As we speak, over 120,000 Boko Haram members have surrendered, and most of them came with hard currency. How did they get it? How are they funded? How did they get the training? How did they get the equipment?

“The UN needs to come in because we need to trace the funding. It is international flow, and we don’t have control over that,” he said.

Asked what his suspicion was, the defence chief said: “Well, maybe an international conspiracy… How are they being able to sustain themselves for 15 years? That is one question I think everybody should ask themselves.”

The defence chief, however, said he did not know whose interest it is to see Nigeria destabilized.

He noted that Nigeria is not the only country dealing with the asymmetric warfare.

“West Africa, the Sahelian area, and in fact, if actions are not taken, it is going to engulf the entire world.

“We are just good guys just trying to make sure that our country is secured, and then, some individuals seem not to be happy about it, and doing everything possible to throw us under the bus for whatever reasons…I have been in service for almost 33 years. Anytime we seem to be succeeding, somebody throws something at us, and the question is: why? Is it because we are succeeding or you don’t want the country to move forward? What is the aim? What’s the intent? That is the question we are asking.”

He also stated that the difficulty in getting equipment was one of the reasons the insurgency had not been wiped out.

“We have a procurement procedure which is being followed. And to also state that even with our monies at times, we find it difficult getting equipment. And the question is: why? One of the reasons why this insurgency has been for this long is because we have been denied access to equipment. Even when we have our monies to get it, it is difficult,” he said.

On why the military had been denied access to equipment, he said: “Well, I really don’t understand. It is a question that we keep on asking, why are we being denied?

“Our government is doing the best it can. But as an international system, like I said, we don’t produce (equipment), we need to buy. So, going to buy is sometimes a bit difficult, getting these items.”

Asked whether Nigeria has any foreign bases on its soil, the CDS exclaimed: “Not at all! We do not encourage any foreign bases. We have the capacity to secure our country, to secure the sub-region and to assist Africa. We have that capacity.

“All we need is to continue to do joint training, which we do, get equipment that we need to help us project these wars,” he said.

FG should send probe request to global community – Expert

In an interview with Daily Trust yesterday, a security sector reform expert, Chukwuma Ume, urged the federal government to consider a formal application to the UN for an investigation into the terrorists’ funding.

He said the government must show the willingness to invited the international community for such an investigation.

“Nothing is wrong with the CDS said in seeking the support of the UN…World over, when any country has issues with man-made issues or natural disaster, you seek support, capacity, intervention and even intelligence from other members of the international communities.

“Yes, it is something in the right direction, but it shouldn’t just stop at that action, and I’m sure the CDS is more than capable, and very knowledgeable of how to go about this. Most senior officers in the Nigerian military have international exposure.

“They must have gone on a peacekeeping mission to one or two other international assignments. I believe they are very vast and knowledgeable on how to table something like this. It is a request that should be matched with actions.

“The international community would also want to see your actions, they would also want to be encouraged by your human rights compliance records vis-a-vis your ability or intention to put in place good governance.

“In other words, if the government is making this request, they (UN) would want the government to show demonstrable efforts in terms of good governance, in terms of human rights compliance, in terms of all rules of engagements, how much are they complying with rules of engagements?

Military confirms 6 soldiers, 34 terrorists killed in Borno attack

The military high command yesterday broke its silence on the Saturday’s attack on it Forward Operating Base, Sabon Gari Area in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

It confirmed that six soldiers lost their lives during the encounter; while 34 terrorists, who had attempted to surprise the troops and retaliate the recent killing of their commander and combatants by troops, were also killed.

Responding to Daily Trust’s enquiry Wednesday morning, Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Edward Buba, said most of the bodies being recovered were those of the terrorists who were wasted by the gallant troops.

He said the terrorists were neutralised by the air component of Operation HADIN KAI when it conducted air interdiction on the fleeing terrorists.

He said the Battle Damage Assessment revealed that several terrorists were killed and their weapons recovered.

He said though the vigilante commander got injured when he stepped on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the timely arrival of reinforcement overpowered the terrorists.

He said: “On 4 January 2025, an unspecified number of ISWAP/BHT terrorists riding on motorcycles and gun trucks engaged troops deployed in Sabon Gari Village of Damboa LGA of Borno State in a fire fight.

“The terrorists had attempted to surprise troops and retaliate the recent killing of their commander and combatants by troops. The terrorists were taken unaware, when troops fighting patrol returning to the Base foiled their planned attack as soon as the attack commenced.

“Additionally, troops reinforcement team comprised of elements of Civilian Joint Taskforce, vigilante as well as hybrid forces timely arrived the scene to overpower the terrorists.

“Furthermore, the air component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted air interdiction on the fleeing terrorists.  Battle Damage Assessment revealed several killed terrorists and recovered weapons.

“On the whole, 34 terrorist were killed and 23 AK 47 weapons recovered. Troops also recovered with over 200 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunitions. Sadly, 6 personnel were killed in action.”

He appealed to the media and Nigerians to respect non-disclosure of the names of killed-in-action personnel to allow administrative procedures of notifying their Next of Kin.

He said on the whole, the Armed Forces of Nigeria was profoundly conscious of its role and responsibility in ending insurgency and terrorism in the nation, adding that troops remained committed to the course of defeating the terrorists.

[DailyTrust]

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has said he is not worried about being re-elected in 2027.

Yusuf said he would serve a second term as governor if it’s the will of Allah.

He spoke in Kano, where he warned against making inciting statements ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Yusuf: “What I am worried about is not re-election. I am more concerned about delivering the dividends of democracy on the mandate given to me in this first tenure.

“I want the good people of Kano to judge me by my performance at the end of this tenure.

“We know those people, who were massively rejected in both 2019 and 2023. We won against them at a time when we had no political office— not even a councillorship seat. But Allah made it possible for us to win with a landslide victory.

“I am destined to be a Governor. It is my total belief and submission to the will of Allah that if He so wills, I will serve a second term. If not, I won’t. So why should I bother myself.”

However, Yusuf vowed to resist pressure on his mandate, stressing that his work speak for him.

“My performance will speak for me, not political pressure,” he said.

[DailyPost]