FAO: Over 26m Nigerians may face food crisis in 2024

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says no fewer than 26.5 million Nigerians may face food crisis between June and August 2024.

The international body said states such as Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara including the federal capital territory (FCT) are of bigger risk.

According to NAN, Dominique Kouacou, FAO country representative, disclosed this at the presentation of the October to November round of the Cadre Harmonise (CH) food security and early warning analysis in Abuja on Friday.

The Cadre Harmonise analysis was conducted in 26 states and the FCT to ascertain the food security situation and make projections for the future.

Speaking at the event, Kouacou, who was represented by Abubakar Suleiman, assistant representative, FAO, said “about 26.5 million Nigerians may encounter a food crisis in 2024”.

According to Kouacou, the current cycle is happening after an unusual lean season that witnessed several shocks, ranging from persistent insecurity situations like insurgency, and banditry. 

He listed other challenges as natural resource-based conflicts, high cost of food and agricultural inputs due to high inflation, and severe dry spells in some states immediately after the onset of rains.

On his part, Ernest Umakhihe, permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture and food security, said the analysis was conducted and validated by highly skilled professionals of the CH analysis task force over the past two weeks.

The permanent secretary, who was represented by Fausat Lawal, director of special duties, said the results of the cycle of Cadre Harmonise analysis came at a time when the government at all levels was doing all possible to revitalise the nation’s economy.

He said the challenges were enormous but surmountable, and that many reasons appeared to be undermining the ministry’s efforts.

“Notable among them are the lingering negative impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and the Russia-Ukraine war which is currently disrupting the food systems and spiking up input prices and food prices,” Umakhihe said.

“The removal of petroleum subsidy has further heightened this pressure, resulting in food inflation and increases in the consumer price index.”

He added that environmental and human factors such as climate change, displacements due to insecurity, and seasonal flooding regimes are recurrent concerns.

Umakhihe said the disruptions had implications on food consumption patterns and the attendant high use of irreversible coping strategies among the country’s large population.

He said the ministry remained resolute in leading and supporting the CH process in Nigeria.

The permanent secretary added that before the end of the year 2024, the ministry would work to mainstream all 36 states of the country in the CH analysis.