The Cadre Harmonisé, an initiative focused on food and nutrition analysis, conducts studies biannually (in March and October) across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). With the Government’s leadership and the United Nations (UN) system’s support, the latest projection for 2024 indicates a sharp rise from the 18.6 million people currently vulnerable to food insecurity from October to December 2023.
Of the 18.6 million people who experience food insecurity today, 3.3 million live in the northeastern states of the BAY (Borno, Adamawa and Yobe) region. This number might rise to 26.5 million nationwide by the height of the 2024 lean season ( and to 4.4 million in the BAY states) if immediate action is not taken.
Several factors are driving this trend, including ongoing conflicts, climate change impacts, escalating inflation, and rising costs of both food and essential non-food commodities (in part due to the devaluation of the naira and the discontinuation of the fuel subsidy).
As stated in the report by Dominique Koffy Kouacou, the FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, “In 2024, alongside our partners, FAO’s focus will be on agrifood systems transformation with deliberate attention on resilience-building, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and providing extension services.” (https://www.ipcinfo.org/ch)
With the increasing Nigerian population, estimated to reach 400 million by 2050, enhanced agricultural productivity through adaptation of new technologies and innovations is necessary to ensure food security, proper nutrition and job creation for the teaming youths. Support from all partners to the efforts by the federal and state governments is central for achieving this goal.