Data from the recently released Cadre Harmonisé Food Security and Nutrition Analysis report reveals an alarming reality of food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria. The report, developed in collaboration between the Nigerian government, FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, highlights a critical situation facing the country.
The hunger crisis is expected to worsen during Nigeria’s lean season, which runs from June to August. The numbers are clear: nearly 7 million more people could be affected by food insecurity compared to the same period last year. This increase is largely attributed to factors such as economic hardship, record inflation, the effects of climate change and continued violence in the country’s northeastern states.
The urgency is underlined in the FAO statement, warning of a rapid deterioration of the situation. The number of people facing “emergency” (Phase 4) food insecurity is projected to increase by nearly 80%, from one million in 2024 to 1.8 million in 2025.
While no region is currently classified as “catastrophe” (Phase 5), the population of northeastern Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, as well as some northwestern states such as Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara, remains particularly vulnerable.
This impending crisis requires an urgent and coordinated response, highlighting the importance of humanitarian assistance and support from national and international actors. Effective measures are crucial to address this crisis and prevent a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. Nigeria must act quickly to ensure the food and nutrition security of its population and protect the most vulnerable in the face of this growing crisis.
This requires a collective mobilisation of resources, skills and efforts to address the urgent needs of the most affected populations and put in place sustainable solutions to overcome the structural challenges that contribute to this crisis. It is time to act with determination and solidarity to prevent this humanitarian crisis from spiralling out of control and becoming devastating. Nigeria and the international community must join forces to address this crisis and ensure a safer and more prosperous future for all.