As the world marks World Food Day, it is another reminder that Nigeria‘s food security crisis has reached an alarming level, with millions of people experiencing severe hunger due to a combination of internal and external factors.
Development Diaries reports that many Nigerians now struggle to feed themselves and resort to begging to put food on their tables.
According to the World Bank’s Food Security Update Report, the number of Nigerians facing acute food shortages has increased by 28 percent in the past year, placing the country among the top five globally for the most significant rise in hunger.
This troubling situation is driven by the intensification of conflict, particularly in northern Nigeria, and climate-related shocks such as droughts.
As a result, many Nigerians now struggle to afford basic food items, with the most vulnerable populations at risk of starvation, as rising food prices compound the country’s worsening food insecurity.
The latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that the inflation rate surged to 32.7 percent in September 2024, up from 32.15 percent the previous month, with food inflation being a major driver.
The escalating cost of essential foodstuffs, such as rice, maize, and wheat, has pushed many households deeper into poverty, forcing them to cut back on meals or resort to less nutritious food options, thereby increasing the risk of malnutrition, particularly among children.
The World Bank has raised the alarm, calling for immediate intervention to address the food crisis. The Nigerian government must prioritise this issue and take decisive action.
Short-term relief efforts would be providing emergency food aid to those most affected, alongside long-term investments in the agricultural sector to enhance food production and security.
Addressing the root causes of conflict and implementing sustainable farming practices must also be part of the strategy to ensure food sufficiency.
Development Diaries calls on the Tinubu-led administration to act swiftly and decisively to avert a full-blown food crisis by creating and implementing policies aimed at stabilising food prices, and addressing insecurity in farming regions.
The rising food inflation and its devastating effects on low-income households cannot be ignored. It is time for the government to alleviate the growing hunger and restore hope to millions of Nigerians.
Photo source: Bukky658
