From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government on Wednesday disclosed that a report conducted with partners showed that more than 31.8 million Nigerians are currently facing acute food shortages due to ongoing security challenges and it’s twin policy of removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira.
According to the study conducted by several international development partners, the food scarcity situation is dire and has resulted in widespread malnutrition among women and children.
Accepting the study, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which disclosed the findings on Tuesday, said the study was conducted by development partners, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Globa Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and the German development agency GIZ.
The study relied on statistics from the Cadre Harmonise, a regional food security framework, to analyse nutrition data.
“The surge in food commodity prices, which is as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy in addition to security challenges, has placed millions of Nigerians in a precarious situation,” The Ministry stated in a statement.
Nigeria’s National Convener of Food Systems and Director of Social Development in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Sanjo Faniran, stated that the study provided valuable insights by identifying gaps, successes, lll lllland challenges, and offering key recommendations.
Earlier this year, the World Bank’s food security report for Nigeria projected that seven Northern states – Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara states – would face severe food security challenges due to escalating food inflation and insecurity in key food-producing areas.
The Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast has severely disrupted food production, leading to widespread destruction of farmlands.
The report from the Federal Government, therefore, aligns with similar reports from international development organisations such as the World Bank, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), the World Food Programme (WFP) and others.
Additionally, herders’ attacks on farmers and ongoing banditry have significantly impacted agricultural output in the North West and North Central regions of the country.
These security issues, compounded by disruptions in global food supply chains, have driven Nigeria’s food inflation by over 40%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
