The latest Food Security Update Report released by the World Bank revealed that Nigeria is grappling with a deepening food security crisis, with over one million more individuals facing severe food insecurity in 2024 compared to the previous year.
This alarming trend places Nigeria alongside Ethiopia and Yemen as countries witnessing significant spikes in acute food shortages.
The report highlights that while some nations, such as Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Kenya, have seen improvements—with more than one million fewer people in acute food crises—others have continued to struggle. “Conversely, some countries saw improvements. Nations such as Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Kenya reported declines in food insecurity, with more than one million fewer people facing acute food crises, although these countries remained in significant food crisis situations.”
Contrarily, the situation has deteriorated in 18 countries, where intensified conflicts and climate-related shocks like droughts have exacerbated food insecurity.
“On the other hand, 18 countries experienced worsening situations due to factors including intensified conflict and climate-related shocks, such as droughts. Notable examples include Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Yemen, each witnessing an increase of more than one million people facing high levels of food insecurity from the previous year,” the report noted.
The report specifically attributed the escalation of Nigeria’s food crisis to a combination of climate-induced challenges and socio-political instability across various regions.
In particular, it highlighted the severe impact of recent flooding, stating, “In Nigeria, an estimated 1.6 million hectares of land have been inundated, including 342,650 hectares of cropland, affecting 685,770 vulnerable individuals.
” This situation is mirrored in Mali, where 344,000 people have been impacted by flooding across 1.6 million hectares of land, nearly 500,000 of which are cultivated,” it added.
Additionally, other West African nations, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, have also experienced flooding.
Concurrently, northern and northeastern Nigeria, along with Ghana, are grappling with dry spells that adversely affect agricultural production and exacerbate food insecurity.
The cumulative effect of floods and droughts has left approximately 3.5 million people in need of emergency support, with an estimated $50 million required to help 760,200 communities meet their basic food needs.
The report further indicated that domestic food price inflation in Nigeria remains alarmingly high, with food prices soaring by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024.
This surge has significantly strained household incomes, pushing low-income families to the brink of food poverty and making it increasingly challenging for them to afford basic necessities. The report emphasizes the urgency of interventions, stating, “The report called for urgent intervention to address the immediate food needs of affected populations while also focusing on long-term solutions to improve resilience against climate shocks.”
The PUNCH previously reported that around 172 million Nigerians cannot afford a healthy diet, underscoring the gravity of the food security crisis in the nation and the urgent need for comprehensive action to combat this growing challenge.
