By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
NIGERIA IS projected to be on the brink of a severe food insecurity crisis, with an alarming 133.1 million people likely to experience high levels of hunger by 2025, according to the latest Cadre Harmonisé report.
Supported by agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UNICEF, the analysis highlights a stark seven million increase in those facing hunger from last year’s figures.
The report attributes this worsening food insecurity to a combination of economic hardship, record-high inflation, climate change, and the persistent violence in Nigeria’s northeastern region.
Food inflation reached a staggering 40.9% in June 2024, pushing basic nutrition further out of reach for millions.
Additionally, 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women from six vulnerable states, including Borno, Yobe, and Katsina, are at risk of malnutrition, with 1.8 million children facing severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
During the report’s presentation, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Temitope Fashedemi, emphasized the importance of adopting the findings across government ministries, departments, and agencies to develop comprehensive food and nutrition interventions.
Dr. Fashedemi stressed the need for coordinated efforts to address the escalating crisis, urging state and federal entities to utilize the report’s findings to guide their responses.
FAO’s interim Representative in Nigeria, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, affirmed the organization’s dedication to providing sustainable support for Nigeria.
“Our work is aimed at enhancing agri-food systems, both to meet immediate needs and to create lasting, resilient solutions for Nigerian communities,” he said, underscoring the FAO’s commitment to long-term agricultural reforms and food security initiatives.
The hunger crisis has escalated due to continued violence in Nigeria’s northeast, according to David Stevenson, Country Director of the WFP.
Stevenson pointed out that addressing the conflict is critical to establishing Nigeria’s northeast as a stable “food basket” for the country.
“Without peace, building a secure food supply remains a distant goal,” Stevenson stated.
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, expressed deep concern over the risks faced by children due to inadequate food access.
“The impact on children is irreversible, affecting their physical and cognitive development. We have a moral duty to protect every child’s right to adequate nutrition,” Munduate stressed.
The United Nations has appealed to the Nigerian government, donors, and stakeholders to mobilize resources and provide immediate multi-sectoral support to avert a potential food and nutrition catastrophe.
With millions at risk, urgent coordinated actions are essential to mitigate the unfolding crisis across Nigeria.
