· A report led by Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture with technical and financial support from the United Nations and NGOs has estimated that almost 17 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity next year.
· By June and August next year it may increase to 16.8 million.
· The oil-based economy of Nigeria was impacted by several adverse factors including the Pandemic pushing it to the second recession in five years last year.
A report led by Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture with technical and financial support from the United Nations and NGOs has estimated that almost 17 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity next year. By June and August next year it may increase to 16.8 million. The oil-based economy of Nigeria was impacted by several adverse factors including the Pandemic pushing it to the second recession in five years last year. Though the economy showed some signs of revival in recent months, challenges like inflation, especially food prices, remain high.
The country faces insurgency and criminal activities in the northeast, northwest and central states. In 2021, Borno state, in the northeast, where jihadists have waged a 12-year-long war was rated as the worst hit with food scarcity. The area reported almost 144,914 people at emergency or crisis levels which are projected to rise to 291,542 people by next year. Violence continues despite the military’s presence in the region. Approximately two million people have been displaced from their homes in the region, many of them live in squalid camps and depend on hand-outs.
The report according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization enable better planning for decision-makers to identify areas and population at risk of food insecurity.
