30.6 Million Nigerians At Risk of Food Crisis By August — Report

An alarming report has projected that 30.6 million Nigerians, including 150,978 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will be at risk of experiencing a food crisis between June and August 2025.

The latest findings, based on the February-March edition of the food and nutrition security analysis in Nigeria—known as Cadre Harmonise (CH)—were released on Friday. The report revealed a decline of 2.5 million from the previous forecast in November 2024, which had estimated 33.1 million Nigerians facing acute food insecurity during the same period.

Despite a recent decrease in food and commodity prices, the report warned that the lean season would exacerbate the situation, pushing millions into severe food consumption deficits. Factors contributing to the crisis include disrupted livelihoods caused by ongoing conflicts, insecurity, climatic shocks, and the continued effects of macroeconomic reforms introduced by the federal government in 2024.

Conducted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners, the report highlighted that livelihoods and nutrition were under significant strain, particularly in states such as Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, and Katsina.

Malnutrition rates in these regions are reaching critical levels, especially in the North-West and North-East. Several Local Government Areas (LGAs) including central Borno, northern Yobe, and parts of Sokoto have recorded acute malnutrition at phase four, the highest level on the scale. The report noted that areas such as Mobbar and Nganzai in Borno, Mashi in Katsina, and urban centers like Maiduguri and Jere are facing dire nutrition crises, with 178,000 people, including children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women, being at risk.

The FAO raised concerns over worsening food insecurity in Nigeria, citing economic hardship, climate-related disasters, and security challenges as major threats to livelihoods.

At the CH results presentation workshop in Abuja, FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Kouacou Dominique Koffy, praised the Nigerian government and CH stakeholders for their commitment to food security monitoring. He stressed the need for all vulnerable communities to be assessed and called on state governments and development partners to mobilize resources for the next assessment in October 2025.

Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, acknowledged the severity of the food crisis, linking it to economic instability. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the CH analysis and urged humanitarian agencies and donor organizations to align their interventions accordingly.

Stakeholders from organizations such as WFP, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Mercy Corps emphasized the need for sustained humanitarian activities in the affected areas. They also underscored the importance of early warning systems in preventing a full-blown food crisis.

The report paints a grim picture for millions of Nigerians and calls for urgent action to mitigate the impact of food insecurity across the country.