August 29, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has said more than 31.8 million Nigerians are currently facing acute food shortages due to ongoing security challenges and the recent removal of fuel subsidy.
This is according to a study conducted by several international development partners, stating that the situation has resulted in widespread malnutrition among women and children.
The findings were presented during meetings with the government on Monday and Tuesday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The study was conducted by development partners, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and the German development agency GIZ. It relied on statistics from the Cadre Harmonise, a regional food security framework, to analyse nutrition data.
“The surge in food commodity prices, which is as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy in addition to security challenges, has placed millions of Nigerians in a precarious situation,” it stated.
Nigeria’s National Convener of Food Systems and Director of Social Development in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Sanjo Faniran, stated that the study provided valuable insights by identifying gaps, successes, and challenges, and offering key recommendations.
Earlier this year, the World Bank’s food security report for Nigeria projected that seven Northern states – Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara states – would face severe food security challenges due to escalating food inflation and insecurity in key food-producing areas.
The Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast has severely disrupted food production, leading to widespread destruction of farmlands.
The report from the Federal Government, therefore, aligns with similar reports from international development organisations such as the World Bank, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the World Food Programme (WFP) and others.
Additionally, herders’ attacks on farmers and ongoing banditry have significantly impacted agricultural output in the North West and North Central regions of the country.
These security issues, compounded by disruptions in global food supply chains, have driven Nigeria’s food inflation by over 40%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Sam Diala is a Bloomberg Certified Financial Journalist with over a decade of experience in reporting Business and Economy. He is Business Editor at THEWILL Newspaper, and believes that work, not wishes, creates wealth.
