Nigeria’s food insecurity will worsen by 2025 and may throw nothing less than 33 million Nigerians into hunger.
The country’s national population is currently around 223.8 million.
A report by Cadre Harmonisé led by the Federal Government and supported by partners, including the United Nations World Food Programme, warned of deteriorating food security in Nigeria, with 33.1 million people projected to face high levels of food insecurity during the next lean season (June-August 2025).
Analysis showed that the 33.1 million people represents an increase of seven million people compared to the same period last year.
The rise in the projection was driven by current economic hardship, record-high inflation, climate change impacts and persistent violence in the northeastern states.
According to the report, between October and December 2024, approximately 25.1 million people are likely to experience food insecurity, even during the peak of the harvest season. Among them, 3.8 million live in the northeastern states – a figure projected to rise to 5 million by 2025.
Nationally, the number of people facing Emergency levels (Phase 4) of food insecurity is also expected to increase.
READ ALSO: Sokoto Assembly backs subsidy in food supply for residents
While no populations have been classified as ‘Catastrophe (Phase 5),’ those in ‘Emergency (Phase 4)’ are anticipated to rise from 1 million during the 2024 lean season to 1.8 million in 2025, marking an 80 per cent increase.
Approximately 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women across the most affected states – Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in the northeast; Sokoto, Katsina and Zamfara in the northwest – are at risk of acute malnutrition or wasting. Of these, 1.8 million children could face severe acute malnutrition and require urgent nutrition intervention.
“This represents an alarming increase of 7 million people from the same period last year, driven by economic hardship, coupled with record-high inflation, the effects of climate change, and persistent violence in the northeastern states of the country.
“Between October and December 2024, 25.1 million people are expected to experience acute food insecurity, even at the peak of the harvest season. Of this, 3.8 million live in the northeastern states, and this number is projected to rise to 5 million,” the statement read.
According to the WFP, nationally, the number of people experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity is projected to increase from 1 million in the peak of the 2024 lean season to 1.8 million at the same time in 2025, representing a worrying 80 per cent rise.
“Approximately 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition or wasting in six of the most affected states: Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in the northeast, and Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara in the northwest. Of these, an alarming 1.8 million children could face severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and require critical nutrition treatment.”
“This is a record increase in food prices amid record-high transportation costs.
The National Bureau of Statistics disclosed that the price of beans in October 2024 was 282 per cent higher than the same period in 2023. Similarly, the price of local rice rose by 153 per cent compared to October last year.
“These economic shocks have resulted in the continuous devaluation of the local currency, the naira, against the US dollar, external economic factors, and last year’s policy changes, including the discontinuation of the fuel subsidy.
“Other major factors driving food insecurity in the country include the effects of climate change, particularly floods, which directly impact the rising costs of both food and essential non-food commodities and services.
“Trend analyses for the northeastern states indicate consistently high or rising food insecurity levels since 2018.
The number of people requiring urgent assistance has increased by at least 4 million annually during the lean season since June 2020,” the statement read.
Credible News.ng
