Nellie Onwuchekwa, B.Sc, M.ILD
Upstream Security Business Integrity Advisor
Mobil Producing Nigeria (Lagos-Nigeria)
■ Policy-makers and programme implementers have been researching strategies for national security at the detriment of food security. The National Security Policies of most countries focus on border security, policing and equipment and counter measures geared towards ensuring the Sovereignty of the State. These policies are usually devoid of a major thrust in human and food security. Investment in Arms, latest surveillance systems, impressive intelligence network and alliances with powerful nations cannot be said to appropriately protect the basic needs of a nation’s peoples – particularly in AFRICA.
The baseline for a SECURE STATE is the ability of the State to provide basic welfare related needs of the populace. Until recently, concepts of food insecurity and hunger in many countries have been linked to clinical signs of malnutrition. There has been a clear need to provide sensitive indicators of food insufficiency and hunger that are poverty-driven and not limited to clinical definitions. Some governments attempting to resolve food insecurity and hunger problems have orchestrated wonderful policies – which only rest in the shelves of most government libraries. This paper calls for a re-evaluation of national security programmes in Africa based on the conviction that a well-fed populace will contribute to national stability; and a healthy populace will work hard to improve a country’s per capita income.
