Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria Faces Escalating Food Security Crisis, Over 1 Million More Affected in 2024
The World Bank has revealed that Nigeria is grappling with an escalating food security crisis, with over one million additional people facing severe food insecurity in 2024 compared to the previous year. This alarming development was contained in the World Bank’s Food Security Update Report, which highlighted that countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Yemen are experiencing significant rises in acute food shortages.
The report noted that, while some nations like Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Kenya have seen improvements in food security—with over one million fewer people in these countries facing acute crises—18 other countries are facing worsening conditions due to a combination of conflict and climate-related shocks. Among these countries, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Yemen have witnessed more than a million additional people slipping into high levels of food insecurity in the last year.
Nigeria’s Growing Crisis: A Combination of Climate and Conflict
The growing food crisis in Nigeria is attributed to a mix of climate-induced disasters and socio-political instability. According to the report, “an estimated 1.6 million hectares of land have been inundated, including 342,650 hectares of cropland, affecting 685,770 vulnerable individuals.” The flood-damaged cropland has particularly worsened the food situation in Nigeria’s rural areas, where agriculture is a primary source of livelihood.
Other West African countries, including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, have similarly experienced severe flooding, while northern and northeastern Nigeria and parts of Ghana are suffering from prolonged dry spells, further exacerbating food production challenges.
“In total, floods and droughts have affected approximately 3.5 million people, who require emergency support,” the report stated. It is estimated that $50 million is urgently needed to help 760,200 communities meet their basic food needs.
Soaring Food Prices Add to the Crisis
The report also highlighted that domestic food price inflation in Nigeria is among the highest in the world. As of August 2024, food prices had surged by 37.5% year-on-year, placing severe pressure on household incomes. For many low-income families, the cost of basic food items has become increasingly unaffordable, compounding the food security crisis.
Call for Urgent Intervention
The World Bank called for immediate intervention to address the dire food needs of affected populations. Alongside emergency aid, the report emphasized the importance of long-term strategies to build resilience against future climate shocks and stabilize food production in Nigeria and other affected nations.