A recent study by international development organizations has found that over 31.8 million Nigerians are experiencing severe food shortages, worsened by ongoing security issues and the removal of fuel subsidies.
The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning released the findings, highlighting the impact on food security and increasing malnutrition, especially among women and children.
Presented during a meeting between the government and its development partners, the report emphasizes the need for immediate interventions to address the growing crisis.
The study shows a significant rise in food insecurity, up from the 18.6 million Nigerians identified by the U.N. World Food Programme as vulnerable between October and December 2023.
The ministry linked the worsening food crisis to rising prices, driven by the removal of fuel subsidies and ongoing security threats.
Armed attacks by bandits have forced many farmers to abandon their land, worsening food shortages, inflation, and Nigeria’s most severe cost-of-living crisis in decades.
In an effort to reduce government spending, President Bola Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, ended fuel subsidies, leading to higher transportation costs and contributing to the rise in food prices.
The study, conducted by partners including the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and the German development agency GIZ, used data from the Cadre Harmonise, a regional framework for food security analysis.
Sanjo Faniran, the national convener of Nigeria’s Food Systems and director of social development at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, noted that the study outlines the challenges and offers recommendations for addressing the ongoing food crisis.
