33.1m Nigerians at risk of food crisis by 2025, says FAO

The Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said about 33.1million people in 26 states and the FCT are projected to be in a food crisis phase or worse during the lean season of June and August 2025.

The report by the FAO in partnership with the World Food Programme, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture revealed that the figure includes 514,474 internally Displaced Persons from Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.

The Cadre Harmonise report revealed that about 25million people across 26 states and the FCT are currently in food crisis phase from October to December

It stated that of the 548 local government areas that were sampled, about 464 LGAs are under pressure, 84 LGAs are in the crisis phase and projected to increase to 203 LGAs during the 2025 lean season if urgent actions were not taken.

The report observed that, unlike the previous report, it was the first time most of the states sampled were under pressure as there were no states in the minimal food security phase.

In terms of nutrition, the report mentioned that Maiduguri currently has the highest prevalence of malnourished children with 18.1 percent followed closely by Jere at 14.9 percent.

The report added that several LGAs in Borno Central are at crisis thresholds with a prevalence rate of 11.3 percent.

Consequently, it added most LGAs in Northern Kastina are in the emergency phases in terms of nutrition.

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The report highlighted the key drivers of food insecurity, including high prices of foodstuff, flooding, insecurity, and the continued increase of fuel prices.

FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Kouacou Dominique Koffy during the presentation of the report in Abuja called for urgent priorities and unify approach for addressing food and nutrition security.

Represented by Tofiq Braimah, Koffy said, “With the concerted efforts of government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can move closer to alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable.”

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Fashedemirin, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to applying the findings from the report to guide food security programme across states.

The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by Kilishi Mohammed, Fashedemi, recognised the contributions of partners and other sectors in maintaining the scope of the report.