Addressing hunger in Nigeria: A critical step towards achieving the SDGs

The phrase “Bi ebi ba ti wo inu, oro mi o kin wo” is a Yoruba proverb, which translates to “When hunger enters the stomach, other words will lose their meanings” in English; reflects the idea that hunger or poverty can overshadow everything else, making it difficult for individuals to focus on or care about anything other than their immediate need for food. Hunger remains a persistent and alarming issue in Nigeria, affecting millions of people across the country. According to the World Bank, approximately 40% of Nigerians live below the poverty line, which directly hampers their ability to access nutritious and safe food. This pervasive hunger crisis does not just speak to food scarcity but also about the inability of many Nigerians to afford or access the right types of food that meet their dietary needs.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranks Nigeria poorly, with the country scoring alarming levels of hunger and malnutrition, particularly in rural and conflict-prone areas. The impact of hunger extends far beyond the lack of food; it leads to high rates of malnutrition, stunting, and increased vulnerability to diseases. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that 38% of Nigerian children under the age of five are stunted, a condition that impedes physical and cognitive development. This undermines individual well-being and hampers national development, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and poor health. As the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted, malnutrition contributes to nearly half of all child deaths in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s hunger crisis is further heightened by a combination of factors, including armed conflict, climate change, and poor agricultural practices. The ongoing insurgency in the northeast, for example, has displaced millions of people, disrupting food production and trade, and leading to extreme food insecurity. Similarly, climate change has intensified the challenges faced by Nigerian farmers, with unpredictable rainfall patterns, frequent droughts, and flooding wreaking havoc on agricultural productivity. As one of the world’s largest economies and a key member of the global community, Nigeria’s ability to address hunger is vital for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger.

According to United Nations estimates, achieving SDG 2 would mean ending all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, a goal that seems distant without urgent action. Nigeria’s success in this area is necessary both for the well-being of its own citizens and the broader global effort to combat hunger. This note will consider the manifestations of hunger in Nigeria, analyse its interconnectedness with other SDGs, and propose actionable solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique socio-economic and environmental challenges. By addressing the root causes of hunger in Nigeria, we can pave the way for a more food-secure and sustainable future, one that supports the nation’s growth while contributing to global development goals.

Understanding Hunger and Its Impact in Nigeria

In Nigeria, hunger is not solely about a lack of sufficient food but also the inability of several Nigerians to access nutritious, safe, and affordable food. The Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria poorly (110th out of the 127 countries), reflecting high levels of food insecurity, stunted growth in children, and malnutrition. While urban areas may have better access to food, rural communities (especially in the northern regions) suffer majorly from food insecurity, exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and climate change.

The consequences of hunger are far-reaching:
• Malnutrition: According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), nearly 40% of children under five in Nigeria are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. This affects their cognitive development and overall health, leading to a lifetime of challenges. We need to be deliberate to lower this number – A healthy mind in a nourished body is possible.
• Health Problems: Hunger and malnutrition directly contribute to the high prevalence of diseases like diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria, which disproportionately affect children under five years old.
• Vulnerable Populations: Women and children are the most vulnerable to hunger in Nigeria, with women often having limited access to resources and decision-making power, while children bear the brunt of malnutrition’s long-term effects.

The roots of hunger in Nigeria are complex but are primarily driven by factors like poverty, insecurity (especially in the northeast), climate change, and poor agricultural infrastructure.

The Role of Hunger in Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 1: No Poverty

In Nigeria, poverty is one of the primary drivers of hunger. With millions of Nigerians living below the poverty line (Nigeria Development Update – NDU, a biannual World Bank report series, puts the actual number of Nigerians in poverty at 129 million), many are unable to afford sufficient and nutritious food. This situation is compounded by the fact that many farmers (particularly smallholder farmers) lack the resources to improve their production methods and are vulnerable to economic shocks. As hunger is deeply tied to poverty, addressing food insecurity can break this vicious cycle by promoting economic stability and access to resources for marginalised communities.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Hunger and malnutrition severely affect health outcomes in Nigeria, contributing to high mortality rates, especially among children under five. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country’s under-five mortality rate is among the highest globally (114 deaths per 1,000 live births). Reducing hunger and improving nutrition could measurably lower disease burdens, improve life expectancy, and ensure healthier populations. Proper nutrition supports better physical and cognitive development, leading to a more productive workforce in the future.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Nigeria’s agricultural sector is faced with many inefficiencies, such as food waste, poor post-harvest handling, and reliance on unsustainable farming methods. Improved food production practices are necessary for ensuring long-term food security. Initiatives that focus on reducing food waste and improving food distribution systems can help address hunger while ensuring that food is available to those who need it the most. Also, sustainable agriculture can help preserve Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential, which includes growing crops like cassava, yam, and maize. Adopting techniques like climate-smart agriculture can boost productivity and ensure food security for future generations.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Nigeria is already feeling the effects of climate change, with extreme weather events like floods and droughts affecting agricultural productivity. The Lake Chad Basin, which provides water for millions of people, has shrunk by 90% in recent decades due to climate change and mismanagement. These changes notably affect food production, leading to more frequent food crises and increasing hunger. In response, Nigeria needs to adopt climate-resilient farming methods and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to safeguard food systems. Supporting farmers with knowledge of climate-adaptive farming techniques and improving irrigation systems will be key to ensuring that hunger is not made worse by environmental shifts.

Challenges of Addressing Hunger in Nigeria

1. Poverty and Inequality: Despite being one of the largest economies in Africa, Nigeria’s wealth is unevenly distributed, and millions of Nigerians lack access to adequate food. Addressing hunger requires improving economic equality and ensuring that food is accessible to vulnerable populations.
2. Conflict and Insecurity: Ongoing conflicts in regions like the northeast, caused by Boko Haram, and inter-communal violence in the Middle Belt disrupt food production, displace families, and limit access to markets. Peace-building and restoring stability are essential to solving food insecurity in conflict zones.
3. Climate Change: Droughts and erratic rainfall patterns continue to reduce agricultural productivity, especially for smallholder farmers who rely on traditional farming methods. Climate change adaptation strategies are urgently needed.
4. Weak Agricultural Infrastructure: Many parts of Nigeria lack sufficient infrastructure, like storage facilities and roads, to transport food efficiently (what if more farms are clustered rather than scattered?). This leads to post-harvest losses and contributes to hunger.

Possible Solutions for Addressing Hunger in Nigeria

1. Investing in Sustainable Agriculture: Nigeria must prioritise sustainable farming practices and equip farmers with the tools and knowledge to increase productivity while minimising environmental impact. Initiatives such as agroforestry and organic farming can help boost soil health and yield.

2. Investing in Food Homes: A thought-provoking question arises: What if churches set up Food Homes? While I firmly advocate for government action in addressing hunger, I also believe that charity organisations, especially religious institutions, could play a significant role in tackling this crisis. Imagine spaces across Nigeria, where anywhere from 50 to 500 people could access a nutritious meal each day. Many buildings remain underutilized during weekdays, so why not repurpose these spaces to combat hunger, a growing issue deeply affecting our country? I believe the fight against hunger aligns with the core principles of many religious teachings. The idea of “when I was hungry, you fed me” is central to many faiths and holds great relevance today. In fact, this statement is considered one of the key criteria for admission into eternal bliss in some religious doctrines. By utilising existing community resources, religious institutions could make a profound impact on alleviating hunger in Nigeria.

3. Strengthening Food Distribution Systems: Improving infrastructure and logistics is crucial in reducing food waste and enhancing food access, particularly in remote areas. The FAO reports that approximately one-third of food produced globally is lost or wasted. By investing in better food storage, transportation, and distribution networks, we can ensure that more food reaches those in need. Additionally, leveraging mobile apps and market linkages can help smallholder farmers connect directly with consumers, reducing food loss and increasing market efficiency. Clustered farming practices in central locations can further optimise resource distribution, making it easier to share common resources across multiple smallholder farms. This approach will not only reduce food waste but also improve food security for vulnerable populations, contributing to the broader goal of addressing hunger in Nigeria.

4. Empowering Women and Minorities: Empowering women, particularly women farmers, is important for improving food security in Nigeria. According to the World Bank, women make up about 60-80% of the agricultural labor force in sub-Saharan Africa, yet they often face major roadblocks such as limited access to resources, timely access to relevant information, and land ownership. In rural areas, where women are key to food production, these challenges hinder their potential to contribute fully to food security. Empowering women and marginalised groups by ensuring equal access to resources, information, and land ownership is jugular in addressing hunger. Research shows that when women have control over land and access to credit and training, agricultural productivity increases, which leads to better household nutrition and overall food security. As UN Women states, “Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path toward gender equality, poverty eradication, and inclusive economic growth.” Therefore, empowering women in agriculture is a vital step in the fight against hunger in Nigeria.

5. Climate-Smart Agriculture: Supporting climate-resilient farming practices is basic in regions affected by climate change, and technology can play a pivotal role in strengthening these efforts. This includes the adoption of drought-resistant crops, advanced irrigation systems, and water conservation techniques. Digital tools, such as weather forecasting apps, can provide farmers with real-time information about changing weather patterns, allowing them to make informed decisions on planting and harvesting. Additionally, precision agriculture technologies, such as sensors and satellite imagery, can optimise irrigation, reduce water waste, and improve crop yields. A public-private partnership geared towards this goal can contribute measurably to an overall desirable outcome. By investing in climate-smart technologies (like climate-resilient crop varieties, efficient drip irrigation systems, and data-driven agricultural techniques) farmers can adapt more effectively to climate change and improve food security. As The World Bank highlights, “Technology-enabled solutions are key to building climate-resilient agricultural systems that can sustain food production under increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.” Thus, integrating technology into climate-smart agriculture can notably lower the impact of climate change on food production in Nigeria.

6. Peace-building and Stability: Addressing conflict and ensuring security in areas affected by violence is vital to restoring agricultural productivity and stabilising food distribution systems. A practical model for achieving peace and stability in these regions involves a multi-step approach:
• Establishing Local Peace Dialogues: Facilitate community-based peace talks involving local leaders, farmers, and conflict-affected groups. These dialogues should focus on resolving tensions, establishing trust, and promoting cooperation for shared goals, such as food security and economic stability.
• Strengthening Security Infrastructure: Partner with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities to fortify security through the establishment of safe zones for farming and food distribution. Training and equipping local security forces to protect agricultural assets and food supply chains can help maintain a stable environment.
• Promoting Economic Incentives for Peace: Encourage investment in local agriculture by providing subsidies, access to credit, and development of post-conflict farming infrastructure. This can motivate communities to prioritise peace, as economic recovery directly correlates with stability and access to food.
• Integrating Technology for Conflict Monitoring: Use technology such as mobile apps or drones to monitor conflict zones and track the movement of people, goods, and agricultural produce. These tools can help ensure that food is distributed fairly and reaches communities without interruption, even in volatile areas.
• Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Support: After peace is achieved, implement programs for rebuilding agriculture and food systems. This could include providing training on sustainable farming practices, distributing seeds, tools, and providing long-term financial support to help communities recover.

By focusing on these key areas (dialogue, security, economic incentives, technology, and reconstruction) peace-building efforts can restore stability, which is important for the uninterrupted flow of food production and distribution, ultimately addressing hunger in conflict-affected regions.

7. Social Safety Nets: Governments and international organisations can improve the effectiveness of social safety nets, like food assistance programs and nutrition-sensitive policies, by embedding technology into their implementation. Some ways tech tools can improve these initiatives include:
• Digital Platforms for Efficient Targeting: Use data analytics and mobile apps to identify and target the most vulnerable populations. By storing and analysing demographic, economic, and geographic data, governments can ensure that food assistance and financial support reach those who need it the most, while reducing inefficiencies.
• E-Vouchers and Cash Transfers: Implement digital e-vouchers or mobile money platforms to deliver financial support directly to beneficiaries. This allows for faster, more secure, and transparent distribution of funds, and enables individuals to purchase nutritious food directly from local markets, promoting local economies.
• Real-Time Monitoring and Feedback: Use mobile applications and 2-Way SMS systems to collect real-time data on the distribution and impact of food assistance. This technology can help track inventory, monitor the status of beneficiaries, and receive feedback, ensuring programs are tailored and responsive to the needs of the population and can be adjusted as necessary.
• Blockchain for Transparency and Accountability: Incorporate blockchain technology to track the flow of funds and food supplies. This ensures transparency in how resources are distributed, lowering the potential for corruption and ensuring that aid reaches its intended recipients.
• Nutrition Tracking and Support: Develop mobile health apps that offer nutritional information and resources to beneficiaries. These apps can help individuals and families make informed food choices based on their specific dietary needs, improving the overall effectiveness of food assistance in addressing malnutrition.
By integrating these technological tools inclusive of digital platforms, e-vouchers, real-time monitoring, blockchain, and nutrition apps, social safety nets can be implemented more efficiently, transparently, and effectively, ensuring vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food even during times of crisis.

8. Global Partnerships: The role of international cooperation in addressing hunger cannot be overstated. Partnerships between governments, NGOs, and private sectors are important to scaling up solutions and ensuring that resources are directed towards the most vulnerable populations.

In conclusion, ending hunger is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and it requires a multi-pronged approach. As the United Nations emphasises, “Hunger is not just about food, it’s about access to food and the ability to provide for oneself and one’s family.” While SDG 2 offers a clear target to eliminate hunger by 2030, it is evident that this goal cannot be achieved in isolation. Addressing hunger requires a comprehensive commitment to sustainable development, improving agricultural practices, tackling poverty and inequality, and addressing the impacts of climate change. In Nigeria, tackling hunger goes beyond simply providing food (it also involves addressing poverty, inequality, climate change, and conflict). As Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, aptly stated, “There is no peace without food security.” Nigeria’s efforts to achieve SDG 2: Zero Hunger are critical not just for the well-being of its citizens but also for advancing broader global development goals.

By investing in sustainable agriculture, climate action, infrastructure, and social equality, Nigeria can pave the way for a food-secure and prosperous future for all its people. As Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, has said, “The future of Africa lies in its youth, and they must be given the tools, opportunities, and hope to unlock their potential.” Addressing hunger, therefore, is not only about food access but also about creating opportunities for growth, innovation, and empowerment.

The challenge ahead is huge, but the opportunity for creating lasting change is within reach. Napoleon Hill said, “every adversity, every failure, every heartbreak, carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” Through innovative solutions, collaboration, and a focus on sustainable practices, we can work toward a world where hunger is no longer a barrier to human potential and where all people have the nourishment they need to thrive.

Call to Action: As individuals, organisations, and nations, we must come together to prioritise solutions to hunger. Supporting policies and initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture, tackle climate change, reduce food waste, and empower vulnerable communities are necessary steps toward achieving SDG 2 and building a world where everyone can live free from hunger. As Nelson Mandela wisely put it, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice.” Let us take action now to build a future where hunger is eradicated and the potential of every individual is realised.

Thank you for the enormous investment in time, patience and attention. I am open to conversations around ending hunger and building Food Homes. Please follow my Medium: https://medium.com/@roariyo (for more of my curated thoughts) and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olufemiariyo/ or send an email to [email protected]