The latest Cadre Harmonisé food and nutrition insecurity analysis warns that by 2025, an estimated 133.1 million Nigerians will face severe food insecurity, with 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of malnutrition.
The report, released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), was prepared by the Nigerian government with support from partners including the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF. It highlights a worsening food security crisis in Nigeria, with a 7 million increase in the number of people projected to suffer food insecurity compared to last year, driven by economic challenges, skyrocketing inflation, climate change, and ongoing violence in the northeast.
Key Findings:
- 133.1 million people in Nigeria will face high levels of food insecurity during the upcoming lean season (June–August 2025).
- The number of people experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity (Phase 4) is expected to rise by 80% from 1 million to 1.8 million.
- 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition or wasting in the hardest-hit states, including Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara.
- Of these, 1.8 million children could suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and need urgent medical care.
Economic factors, including 40.9% inflation on food and 34.2% overall inflation in June 2024, are major contributors to the crisis.
At the presentation of the report, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security emphasized the importance of the Cadre Harmonisé for planning and intervention. FAO’s representative, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to addressing the root causes of food insecurity through stronger agricultural systems, while WFP’s David Stevenson highlighted the critical need for peace in the northeast to unlock the region’s agricultural potential.
UNICEF’s Ms. Cristian Munduate stressed the dire impact on children, urging urgent action to safeguard children’s right to adequate nutrition.
In response, the United Nations has called for increased resources and coordinated support to prevent a looming food crisis in Nigeria, underscoring the need for immediate action across multiple sectors to avert a food and nutrition disaster.
