News
‘16 Million Nigerians To Face Hunger Crisis By Jan 2027’
At least 16.99 million Nigerians will face acute hunger by January 2027, the latest projections by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network have shown.
The figures are contained in FEWS NET’s Food Assistance Outlook Brief for July 2026 as the latest data on the deepening hunger crisis across conflict and climate-hit nations, including Nigeria.
FEWS NET, a United States Government-funded early warning body, projected that Nigeria’s population in need of urgent food assistance will fall between 16.0 million and 16.99 million by January 2027, down from a current figure of 20.0 million to 20.99 million in July 2026.
But the figure is still higher than the number recorded in January last year and above the country’s five-year average.
The report placed Nigeria fourth on the global list of countries with the highest number of hungry people, behind Sudan, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and ahead of Yemen and Afghanistan.
Nigeria was also named among just four countries expected to each contribute more than 10 per cent of the total 145 million to 155 million people projected to need food assistance across all 30 countries monitored by FEWS NET by January 2027. The others include Sudan, Pakistan, and the DRC.
The report is the latest in a series of periodic outlook accounts FEWS NET has published for two decades to warn governments and humanitarian agencies of looming hunger emergencies.
According to the report, the crisis is being driven by “conflict that disrupts livelihoods, restricts cultivation, and constrains household income” across northern Nigeria, even as the main harvest, expected to be completed in December, offers only partial relief.”
“Despite the completion of the main harvest in December, staple food prices are expected to remain high as production and supply disruptions coincide with high market reliance among conflict-affected households who are unable to cultivate,” the document stated.
It added that hardest-hit communities in the North-East, cut off by insecurity and movement restrictions linked to conflict, will remain in “Emergency.”
Emergency is the fourth of five hunger severity stages on the internationally recognised Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scale and is closely followed by famine.
Under the IPC scale, Emergency means households face large food consumption gaps reflected in high malnutrition and rising deaths, or can only avoid such gaps by selling off farmland, livestock, or other essential assets needed for future survival.
A breakdown of the data showed that Nigeria’s projected 16.0 million to 16.99 million hungry population represents between 5 and 10 per cent of the country’s total population, according to the report’s classification bands.
The figure is markedly lower than the current July 2026 tally of 20.0 million to 20.99 million, a seasonal dip FEWS NET attributes mainly to the December harvest.
However, when set against both January 2026 and the five-year historical average, the projected number is classified as “Higher,” meaning Nigeria’s hunger burden is worsening on a year-on-year and long-term basis, even as raw numbers fall from their mid-year peak.
According to the report, the “key shocks” driving Nigeria’s food crisis are conflict, economic hardship, and weather, the same factors cited for Sudan, Pakistan, and several other worst-hit nations.
Globally, the report’s country-by-country table ranked Nigeria’s current PIN of 20.0 million to 20.99 million as the second-highest in the world in July 2026, behind only Sudan’s 22.0 million to 22.99 million, and ahead of Pakistan’s 12.0 million to 12.99 million.
By January 2027, however, Pakistan is projected to overtake Nigeria, with its own hungry population rising sharply from 12 million to as high as 17.99 million, pushing Nigeria down to fourth position on the projected list.
The FEWS NET report projected that between 145 million and 155 million people, roughly 10 per cent of the population of all countries the network monitors, will need urgent food assistance by January 2027.
On a global scale, South Sudan was named the world’s worst-affected country by population share, with 50 to 55 per cent of its citizens expected to need food aid, followed by Sudan at 40 to 45 per cent, Yemen at 35 to 40 per cent, and Somalia at 30 to 35 per cent.
Sudan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and the DR Congo were flagged as carrying the single heaviest absolute burdens worldwide, while Yemen and Afghanistan were named as the next tier of major contributors.
The report also flagged five countries at risk of slipping into full-blown Famine, the most severe classification marked by starvation and extreme malnutrition-linked deaths.
Among them are Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Mali and the neighbouring Republic of Tchad, which hosts fleeing Sudanese refugees, and Mali.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network explained that its population-in-need estimate captures everyone already facing Crisis-level hunger or worse, IPC Phase 3 and above, including anyone who would fall into that category without ongoing humanitarian aid.
The agency said its confidence in figures for some countries is lower, especially for those where monitoring is done remotely rather than through on-the-ground teams.
For Nigeria, however, no such remote-monitoring caveat was applied, indicating the projection draws on the Network’s direct, in-country analysis.
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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