Nigeria is bracing for one of its worst hunger crises, with more than 30 million people expected to be food insecure next year. This represents a one-third increase from this year, driven by economic hardship, according to a joint report by the Nigerian government and the United Nations released on Friday.
The report highlights the dire situation in Africa’s most populous nation, which is grappling with a cost-of-living crisis that led to deadly protests in August. Economic conditions have deteriorated further following President Bola Tinubu’s austerity reforms, including the devaluation of the naira and the removal of a decades-old petrol subsidy, which have fueled inflation.
“Several factors are driving this trend, but most prominently are economic hardship coupled with record high inflation, a record rise in food prices, and record high transportation costs,” the report stated. The analysis, conducted twice a year in 26 states and the federal capital, projects that 33.1 million people will be food insecure by August next year, compared to 24.8 million by the end of this year.
Chi Lael, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme in Nigeria, explained, “Economic decisions to strengthen the country in the long term, in the short term have felt like a direct attack on people’s wallets, hitting hardest every time they try to buy food.”
In response to the crisis, Finance Minister Wale Edun announced on Thursday that 5 million households had received cash handouts of 25,000 naira ($15.45) as part of the government’s program to support the most vulnerable families. Despite these efforts, high food prices remain the largest contributor to inflation, which rose to 32.70% in September from 32.15% in August.
Agriculture in northern states has been severely impacted by flooding and insecurity, further driving up food prices beyond the reach of many families. Last month’s floods destroyed an estimated 1.6 million hectares of crops, primarily in the northern food basket states, potentially causing production losses of a combined 1.1 million tonnes for maize, sorghum, and rice. This loss is enough to meet the daily food needs of about 13 million people for a year. In financial terms, the potential cereal crop losses amount to almost $1 billion in economic losses.
The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the root causes of food insecurity and support affected populations. As Nigeria navigates these challenging times, the international community’s support and effective domestic policies will be crucial in mitigating the impact of this crisis.
