Food and nutrition insecurity remain deeply rooted challenges in Nigeria, shaped by intersecting factors such as conflict, climate disruption, economic hardship, and weaknesses in the agricultural and health systems.
According to 2024 estimates from the Global Hunger Index and UN agencies, more than 26.5 million Nigerians are projected to face acute hunger, with northern states disproportionately affected. Even among food-secure households, diets are often limited to inexpensive staples such as cassava, yam, maize, and white rice—foods that provide calories but lack essential nutrients like protein, fiber, iron, and zinc. This heavy reliance on nutrient-poor staples reveals a parallel crisis: nutrition insecurity.
Many Nigerians consume sufficient calories but lack the dietary diversity needed for healthy growth, immunity, and disease prevention. UNICEF’s 2024 report estimates that over 11 million children under five are experiencing severe child food poverty. National health data show that about one-third of children under five—approximately six million—are stunted, while three million more suffer from acute malnutrition. Inadequate access to quality proteins and micronutrients, particularly in low-income households, continues to undermine child development and public health. The effects of malnutrition extend well beyond physical health. Poor nutrition in early childhood has been linked to long-term cognitive deficits, reduced academic achievement, and lower economic productivity—deepening cycles of poverty and underdevelopment.
Addressing these interrelated issues requires not only humanitarian responses but also sustainable, systems-based approaches.
A coordinated, multi-sectoral approach presents a path forward. Priorities may include modernizing agriculture with climate-resilient practices, improved seed systems, and better storage infrastructure to boost year-round availability of nutrient-rich crops. Expanding targeted food assistance, especially in highburden and conflict-affected areas, alongside home gardening and biofortified crops, can enhance food access and household resilience.
Economic measures such as subsidies for legumes and vegetables, coupled with support for rural livelihoods, can help make nutritious foods more accessible In turn, they reduce health disparities resulting from food and nutrition insecurity. Empowering women through land access, microfinance, and nutrition education further strengthens household-level decision-making around food and caregiving.
A growing body of global research and guidance—particularly from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF—underscores the importance of diet-related and food-based interventions in addressing malnutrition, food insecurity, and rising ratesdiet-related non-communicable diseases. WHO and FAO guidelines emphasize the value of fortifying staple foods to reduce micronutrient deficiencies at scale. UNICEF’s 2023 State of the World’s Children report further advocates for dietary diversity as a cornerstone of child nutrition and long-term health. When rooted in local culture and based on accessible ingredients, these food-based strategies offer practical, sustainable responses to both short-term nutritional deficits and long-term public health challenges. Within Nigeria, the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) demonstrates the potential of nutrition-sensitive interventions to address both undernutrition and economic vulnerability. Evaluations from North-East Nigeria report improvements in household food security and school attendance linked to the program. Nonetheless, issues such as inconsistent meal quality, inadequate monitoring, and limited community participation have constrained its broader effectiveness. Enhancing the program through better accountability systems, reliable funding, and stronger integration with local food supply chains could improve its impact and scale.
Sustained progress in nutrition will depend in large part on the generation of high-quality, context-specific research. There is an opportunity for Nigerian nutrition scientists, food technologists, dietitians, and public health practitioners to lead interdisciplinary studies that explore the intersection of diet, health, agriculture, and social behaviour. Much of the country’s nutrition strategy currently draws from global frameworks, but more locally driven evidence is needed to inform policies and programs that reflect the realities of Nigerian communities. Such research would benefit from being both practical and actionable. For example, studies that assess the nutrient value of traditional foods, evaluate innovations in school feeding, or examine the health outcomes of fortified staples can provide direct insights for program and policy design. Strengthening collaboration among academic institutions, public agencies, and international partners could create the infrastructure needed to ensure research findings are translated into meaningful change.
Real progress in addressing food and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria will require more than isolated programs or imported frameworks. It calls for an integrated strategy that connects agricultural development, nutrition education, local food innovation, and evidence-based policy. With the right investments and leadership, Nigeria holds the capacity to design solutions that are rooted in local culture, supported by rigorous research, and scaled through strong institutions. Prioritizing food-based, nutritionsensitive interventions guided by data and community insight can transform public health outcomes and contribute to a more resilient and nourished population.
Mary Adebimpe Adewoye, M.Sc. (Human Nutrition) is a public health nutritionist and researcher dedicated to addressing diet-related chronic diseases and food insecurity.
