A recent report by Cadre Harmonise has painted a grim picture of the food security situation in Nigeria, with a projected 31.5 million Nigerians on the brink of food insecurity between June and August 2024.
The removal of the fuel subsidy is identified as a major factor, triggering macroeconomic challenges, inflation in agricultural inputs, and escalating transport costs.
The report reveals that approximately 14,000 internally displaced persons and around 24.7 million people in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory face the looming risk of hunger from March to May 2024. The estimated number of individuals in IDP camps exceeds 83,000.
Highlighting specific regions at risk, the report states, “Also, 1.5 million people in Yobe are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year.”
During the current period, food consumption is under stress in most states and has reached crisis levels in certain Local Government Areas in Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Yobe, and Zamfara States. Deteriorated food consumption situations were also observed among populations in inaccessible areas and IDPs in Adamawa, Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
The report underlines the impact of insecurity and macroeconomic challenges on livelihood evolution in all analyzed states. Conflict, insecurity, fuel scarcity, currency devaluation of the naira, and soaring inflation and Consumer Price Index rates are identified as primary contributors to the crisis.
“Poor macroeconomic conditions are restricting access to agricultural inputs in the country. The high cost of transport, inflation rate, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate have negatively affected households’ income. In the projected period (June to August 2024), poor microeconomic conditions and conflicts are expected to drive limited access to livelihood opportunities,” the report states.
In a previous report last year on food security in Nigeria, Cadre Harmonise warned that around 26.5 million people in the country were at risk of food crisis and hunger in 2024 due to expected food inflation and insecurity. The food inflation rate soared to 35.4% in January, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, and is anticipated to rise higher according to current projections.
Beyond the increased cost of production due to high transport prices, insecurity remains a significant factor pushing the food aspect of the Consumer Price Index to alarming levels.
The federal government has contemplated the establishment of state police to bolster the security architecture, especially in the fragile northeast region.
