The looming food crisis

Nigeria is on the brink of a severe food crisis, threatening the lives of millions. According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, an estimated 30.6 million Nigerians, including nearly 151,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), will face acute food insecurity between June and August 2025.

While this projection represents a slight improvement from previous estimates, it remains an alarming situation that demands immediate and decisive action.

The report, compiled by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), paints a grim picture of worsening food shortages and malnutrition across the country.

Although food prices have declined slightly in recent months, the approaching lean season is expected to exacerbate hunger, particularly in regions already grappling with conflict, climate change, and economic instability.

Among the worst-hit states are Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Katsina, where persistent insecurity and violence have driven farmers off their land, crippling agricultural production and disrupting food supply chains. This has led to escalating food prices, pushing essential goods beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains highly vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on rain-fed farming, which is increasingly disrupted by climate change. Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and devastating floods have significantly reduced crop yields and livestock numbers, particularly in the northern regions.

Meanwhile, the country’s economic downturn has compounded the crisis. The economic reforms of 2024, while necessary for long-term stability, have contributed to higher inflation, a weakened currency, and soaring fuel costs. The result? Increased production and transportation costs, making food even more expensive and inaccessible for ordinary Nigerians.

Beyond food prices, these economic hardships have further limited access to essential services, including healthcare and education, deepening the vulnerability of already struggling communities.

Food insecurity is not just a humanitarian disaster—it is a national security threat. If left unchecked, widespread hunger could fuel civil unrest, social upheaval, and political instability.

Recognising this danger, international organisations such as FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps have repeatedly stressed the need for early warning systems and sustained humanitarian assistance to prevent a full-blown emergency.

While FAO’s Country Representative, Kouacou Dominique Koffy, commended the Nigerian government’s commitment to food security monitoring, he also emphasised the urgent need for better data collection and resource mobilisation to effectively tackle the crisis.

The Nigerian government must act now to prevent this crisis from spiralling out of control. We call on the federal government to declare food insecurity a national emergency and establish a multi-agency task force comprising key ministries, security agencies, humanitarian organisations, and private sector stakeholders to coordinate immediate interventions.

Government must also boost domestic food production by increasing investment in irrigation, mechanised farming, and climate-resilient agriculture. State and local governments must also play an active role in improving food storage and distribution networks.

In addition, it must ensure security in farming communities by deploying adequate security personnel to protect farmers and their lands, particularly in conflict-prone areas. Without security, food production cannot thrive. Not to mention, the government must mobilise private sector support—agribusinesses have a crucial role in increasing food production and ensuring that food reaches vulnerable populations at affordable prices. Public-private partnerships should be strengthened to achieve this goal.

Furthermore, the government has to enhance international cooperation by working closely with FAO, WFP, UNICEF, and other global partners to sustain humanitarian assistance and implement long-term solutions that build resilience against future food crises.

Nigeria’s future hinges on how it responds to this crisis. Food insecurity affecting 30.6 million people is not just a temporary setback—it is a defining challenge for the nation’s leadership.

This is a test of political will, strategic planning, and collective determination. If Nigeria fails to act decisively, the consequences will be catastrophic—not just for the present, but for generations to come. We cannot afford to fail. The time for action is now.