ECOWAS Urges Immediate Action To Tackle Escalating Food Crisis

The Economic Community of West African States has raised concerns over the worsening food crisis in West Africa and the Sahel, emphasizing the need for swift action to prevent millions from experiencing extreme hunger.

During the third session of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve Management Committee held in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, highlighted the critical role of food reserves in addressing food insecurity across the region.

Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Marcus Ogunbiyi, Kyari acknowledged the proactive steps taken by ECOWAS leaders in 2013 to establish the Regional Food Reserve Initiative, describing it as a significant step towards bolstering food security.

“This meeting is taking place at a particularly worrying moment for our region,” he said.

As chair of the committee, Kyari identified conflict, economic instability, and climate change as major contributors to the deteriorating food situation.

Referring to findings from the December 2024 Cadre Harmonisé report, he stated, “Nearly 34.7 million people are in immediate need of food and nutritional assistance.”

To mitigate the crisis, he emphasized the importance of improved strategies, increased domestic funding, and better management of food reserves to reduce price fluctuations and strengthen food security.

Kyari noted, “The food security situation has worsened due to conflicts, economic instability, and the devastating impact of climate change.

“This calls for a concerted effort to boost food production, enhance strategic food storage, and stabilise market prices while strengthening the administration and management of the regional food reserve.”

He outlined progress made since the establishment of the reserve, such as improved capacity building, early warning systems, and emergency food aid initiatives.

Currently, the reserve holds over 74,000 tonnes of food stored across various locations for rapid deployment in crisis situations.

However, he underscored the need for better governance, improved operational procedures, and enhanced monitoring systems to ensure an efficient response to food emergencies.

He said, “It is crucial to ensure that the instruments and governance of the regional food security reserve are aligned with the challenges we face and our ambitions for the region.
As such, we must strengthen the decision-making process and enhance monitoring of the reserve’s operations and interventions.”

Kyari urged committee members and stakeholders to engage actively in discussions on operational planning and emergency response measures, expressing optimism that the meeting would yield strategies to reinforce the region’s food security framework. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting regional food security efforts.

In her address, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandjé Toure-Litse, cautioned that the food crisis could intensify if necessary interventions are not implemented.

“If appropriate measures are not taken, this figure could reach 47 million by the lean season from June to August 2025,” she cautioned.

Represented by Acting Executive Director of the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, Mohamed Zongo, Toure-Litse pointed to factors such as geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, economic difficulties, and climate change as key triggers of the crisis.

She advocated for a more coordinated regional response while also laying the groundwork for long-term sustainability.

“It is imperative that our region enhances its immediate response mechanisms while consolidating the foundations of sustainable resilience,” she said.

She acknowledged that although the Management Committee had not convened frequently in recent years, the Bureau established in December 2019 had held three sessions since March 2023.

The current meeting, she explained, aimed to evaluate the Reserve’s activities over the past year and set objectives for 2025 to provide relief to communities most affected by food shortages, malnutrition, and pastoral crises.

“Our discussions and decisions must ensure transparency, efficiency, and fairness in managing the Reserve while adapting it to present and future challenges,” she added.

Toure-Litse also expressed appreciation for the continued backing from national and regional organizations, as well as international partners such as the French Development Agency, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation.