Nigeria dey face one of the worst food crises in recent years, as over one million more Nigerians don join the list of people wey no get enough food to eat. Dis crisis dey caused by several factors, including severe flooding, high food prices, and economic challenges.
According to reports from OCHA and other humanitarian agencies, flooding across West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, has affected over 1.2 million people in the country. The flooding, which started since late July, has damaged over 85,000 homes and destroyed large areas of farmland, leading to a significant increase in food insecurity and malnutrition.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also report say food prices don skyrocket. For example, the price of one kg of brown beans increase from N692.95 in August 2023 to N2,574.63 in August 2024, a 271.55% increase. Similar increases dey for eggs and bread, making it hard for many Nigerians to afford basic meals.
The high cost of fertiliser, driven by naira devaluation and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, has further exacerbated the situation. Poultry farmers are also struggling with the high cost of maize, which is affecting food production. This has led to a rise in malnutrition cases, especially among children, as households reduce their food consumption to once or twice a day.
Doctors Without Borders report say admissions for malnutrition at their treatment facilities in Bauchi more than double in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The World Bank predict say the number of people living in poverty in Nigeria may increase to around 150 million by the end of 2024.
Humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, are working hard to provide food and other essential services to those affected. However, they are facing significant challenges due to constrained access to aid supplies and funding shortfalls.
