Nigeria is facing an escalating food security crisis, with over one million more people experiencing severe food insecurity in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the World Bank’s latest Food Security Update Report.
The report highlights significant increases in food shortages in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Yemen, largely due to intensified conflict and climate-related shocks.
“In contrast, some countries such as Afghanistan, Guatemala, and Kenya saw declines in food insecurity, though they remain in significant crisis situations,” the report stated.
However, the situation in Nigeria has worsened, with an increase of more than one million people facing acute food insecurity, driven by a combination of climate challenges and socio-political instability.
The report detailed the impact of severe flooding in Nigeria, which has inundated approximately 1.6 million hectares of land, including 342,650 hectares of cropland, affecting 685,770 vulnerable individuals.
Similar conditions have affected other West African countries, including Mali, Cameroon, and Ghana, where droughts and floods have devastated crop production, contributing to the region’s food insecurity.
Additionally, Nigeria is grappling with one of the highest domestic food price inflation rates globally, with prices surging by 37.5% year-on-year as of August 2024. This steep rise has strained household incomes, making it increasingly difficult for low-income families to access basic food items.
The report calls for urgent intervention, estimating that $50 million is needed to help 760,200 affected communities meet their immediate food needs.
