The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has sounded the alarm over a growing food crisis in West Africa and the Sahel, warning that millions could face acute hunger without immediate intervention. At the third meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve Management Committee in Abuja, Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, emphasized the vital role of food reserves in tackling the crisis.

According to the December 2024 Cadre Harmonisé report, nearly 34.7 million people are in immediate need of food and nutritional assistance. If no action is taken, food insecurity could affect up to 47 million people by the next lean season between June and August 2025. Kyari attributed the crisis to conflict, economic instability, and climate change, and called for improved strategies, increased national funding, and better food reserve management to address market volatility and strengthen food security systems.

The ECOWAS Regional Food Reserve Initiative, established in 2013, has made progress in capacity building, early warning systems, and emergency food deployment. Currently, over 74,000 tonnes of food are stored across the region for emergency purposes. However, Kyari emphasized the need to enhance governance, operational efficiency, and monitoring of the reserve to ensure that it is aligned with the challenges faced by the region.

ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandjé Toure-Litse, echoed the urgency of the situation, cautioning that food insecurity could affect up to 47 million people by mid-2025 if appropriate measures are not taken. She stressed the importance of both immediate action and long-term resilience strategies, and noted that the Management Committee had not met regularly in recent years, but the Bureau formed in December 2019 had convened three times since March 2023.

Toure-Litse expressed appreciation for the continued support from regional and international partners, including the French Development Agency, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation. She emphasized that the discussions and decisions made by the committee must ensure transparency, efficiency, and fairness in managing the Reserve while adapting it to present and future challenges.

The escalating food crisis in West Africa and the Sahel has far-reaching implications for the region's stability, economic growth, and human well-being. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is crucial that ECOWAS member states and international partners work together to address the root causes of the crisis and develop sustainable solutions to ensure food security for the region's most vulnerable populations.

In conclusion, the warning by ECOWAS serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action to address the growing food crisis in West Africa and the Sahel. As the region teeters on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, it is imperative that stakeholders come together to develop and implement effective strategies to mitigate the crisis and ensure a food-secure future for the region's citizens.