Nigeria is grappling with a worsening food security crisis, with over one million additional people experiencing severe food insecurity in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the World Bank’s recently released Food Security Update Report.
The report highlights a significant rise in acute food shortages across several countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Yemen. While some nations, such as Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Kenya, have seen improvements with more than one million fewer people facing food crises, these countries remain in critical situations.
“Conversely, 18 countries, including Nigeria, experienced deteriorating conditions due to factors like intensified conflict and climate shocks such as droughts and floods,” the report said. “Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Yemen each saw an increase of over one million people facing high levels of food insecurity compared to the previous year.”
Nigeria’s food security crisis is driven by a combination of socio-political instability and climate-related issues, the report reveals. An estimated 1.6 million hectares of land have been inundated by floods, including 342,650 hectares of cropland, impacting 685,770 vulnerable individuals. Droughts in northern and northeastern Nigeria have compounded the situation, affecting crop production and worsening food shortages.
In addition to flooding and droughts across the West African region, domestic food price inflation in Nigeria remains among the highest in the world, with food prices rising by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024. The steep price surge has placed enormous strain on household incomes, making basic food items increasingly unaffordable for low-income families.
The World Bank is calling for urgent intervention to meet the immediate food needs of affected populations, with an estimated $50 million required to provide emergency support for 760,200 communities struggling with food insecurity across Nigeria and the broader region.
