The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for urgent actions to combat the escalating food crisis affecting West Africa and the Sahel, warning that millions may face severe hunger without proactive measures.
At the third meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve Management Committee in Abuja on Tuesday, Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the importance of food reserves in addressing food insecurity in the region. Kyari, who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Marcus Ogunbiyi, acknowledged the significant strides made by ECOWAS leaders in establishing the Regional Food Reserve Initiative in 2013. He described this initiative as a vital intervention for food security.
Kyari expressed concern over the region’s current situation, highlighting the impact of conflicts, economic instability, and climate change on food availability. According to the December 2024 Cadre Harmonisé report, nearly 34.7 million people in the region are in immediate need of food and nutritional assistance.
“To address this crisis, we need enhanced strategies, increased sovereign financing, and improved management of food reserves to stabilize markets and improve food security,” Kyari stated.
He also noted that the food reserve, which holds over 74,000 tonnes of emergency food stock across the region, has made significant progress since its establishment, including capacity building, early warning systems, and emergency food aid. However, he called for further improvements in governance, operational efficiency, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure a more effective response to food crises.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandjé Toure-Litse, warned that if urgent measures are not taken, the number of people in need of food assistance could rise to 47 million during the lean season from June to August 2025. She cited geopolitical shifts, conflicts, economic instability, and climate change as key contributors to the ongoing food crisis.
Toure-Litse stressed the need for a more robust regional response and a foundation for long-term resilience. She also noted that, despite the challenges, the Management Committee had met three times since March 2023, focusing on improving the reserve’s operations.
She acknowledged the support of national and regional institutions, as well as international partners, including the French Development Agency, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation.
Kyari and Toure-Litse both expressed confidence that the meeting would help identify solutions to strengthen the region’s food security framework.
