ECOWAS urges urgent action to address escalating food crisis in West Africa

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for immediate action to combat a worsening food crisis affecting millions across West Africa and the Sahel.

Speaking at the third meeting of the Regional Food Security Reserve Management Committee, which opened in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Tuesday, ECOWAS officials warned that without proactive measures, up to 47 million people could face acute food insecurity by mid-2025. The crisis is primarily driven by ongoing conflicts, economic instability, and climate change, which have disrupted food production and exacerbated hunger in the region.

According to the latest report, nearly 34.7 million people are already in urgent need of food and nutritional support.
ECOWAS officials emphasized the importance of strengthening food reserves, which play a crucial role in emergency responses. Nigeria’s minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari, highlighted that over 74,000 tons of food are currently stored across the region for emergency purposes, but governance and operational improvements are needed to ensure efficient management.

Massandjé Toure-Litse, ECOWAS commissioner for economic affairs and agriculture, stressed the need for both immediate relief and long-term resilience strategies. She also urged member states to increase funding and improve food reserve management to stabilize markets and strengthen food security systems.

The two-day meeting of the Management Committee of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve took stock of the activities carried out by the Food Reserve since the last meeting in 2023 and planned interventions for 2025, in a context marked by a growing food crisis in West Africa and regional and global geopolitical upheaval.