The World Bank’s latest Food Security report has projected that seven states across the North-west and North-east will undergo a crisis of food security levels in 2024.
According to the World Bank in its latest food security report, insecurity and armed conflicts would plunge three northeastern states and four northwestern states into a food crisis.
The states highlighted by Bretton Woods Institution are Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Apart from Nigeria, the report revealed that other countries in the West African region such as Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger will experience varying degrees of food insecurity.
“It is projected that most areas in West and Central Africa will remain Minimally food insecure (IPC Phase 1) until May 2024, with some being categorized as Stressed IPC 2. Nigeria (far north of Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara states) will be at Crisis food security levels (IPC Phase 3), mostly because of persistent insecurity and armed conflict and deteriorating livelihoods,” it said.
It further revealed that areas in Northeastern states such as Abadam, Bama, Guzamala, Marte etc will experience emergency food security levels (IPC Phase 4) as a result of limited household food stock and access to market and humanitarian aid.
The report also noted that over 63.2% of low-income countries experienced inflation levels surpassing 5%, marking a 1.3%-point increase compared to the previous food update on January 17, 2023.
Additionally, the report revealed that in real terms, food price inflation outpaced overall inflation in 71% of the 165 countries where data was available.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has been battling with a food crisis leading to the high cost of food items in the market, due to the inability of farmers to go to farms in the north as a result of banditry ravaging people.
In July, President Tinubu declared an emergency on food insecurity in the country and moved the item to the National Security Council. However, the move has resulted in little or no impact as food prices continue to surge.
