Nigeria is bracing for an unprecedented hunger crisis in 2025, with an estimated 133.1 million people set to face severe food insecurity. This alarming revelation comes from the latest report by the Cadre Harmonisé, a food and nutrition insecurity analysis prepared by the federal government, supported by the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and other key partners.
The report paints a grim picture, predicting that Nigeria’s food security situation will worsen in the coming year. It highlights a 7 million increase from the previous year, fueled by a combination of economic hardship, soaring inflation, climate change, and persistent violence in the northeastern states.
Economic Hardship and Inflation: Key Drivers of Food Insecurity
The food insecurity crisis is largely driven by Nigeria’s economic struggles. Inflation in the country reached record highs, with food prices soaring by 40.9% as of June 2024. This is compounded by the ongoing economic challenges that have left many Nigerians unable to afford basic food items.
“The economic hardship, coupled with high inflation, continues to devastate the food security situation in Nigeria,” said the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Temitope Fashedemi, who was represented by Dr. Nuhu Kilishi Mohammed. “These factors are pushing more Nigerians into food insecurity, with no relief in sight.”
Northern States Hit Hardest by Hunger Crisis
The Cadre Harmonisé report points out that the northeast and northwest regions are the hardest hit by the food insecurity crisis. States like Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara are expected to suffer the worst effects.
In these areas, nearly 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition. The situation is particularly dire for children, with 1.8 million children facing severe acute malnutrition (SAM), a condition that requires urgent and intensive treatment.
As the report was presented, stakeholders stressed the urgent need for action. The Country Director of the World Food Programme, David Stevenson, emphasized that the ongoing conflict in the northeast is a major contributor to the worsening food crisis. He called for the restoration of peace in the region, saying, “Restoring peace in the northeast is critical for us to build pathways to production and achieve the northeast’s potential as the food basket of the country.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, expressed her concern for the children who are most vulnerable to the effects of the crisis. “Children are at the center of the food insecurity crisis, and they face irreversible consequences, both physical and cognitive,” Munduate warned. “It is our moral imperative to ensure that the right of every child to adequate food and nutrition is upheld.”
The United Nations has called on the Nigerian government, international donors, and other stakeholders to commit the resources necessary to avert a disaster. The FAO’s representative, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, stressed the importance of implementing durable solutions to tackle the underlying causes of food insecurity.
“By enhancing agri-food systems, we strive to meet urgent needs, while promoting long-term, sustainable progress for communities,” said Kouacou. The FAO, together with its partners, is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition to ensure long-term stability in the affected regions.
The report from the Cadre Harmonisé highlights the growing need for a coordinated response across Nigeria’s federal ministries, humanitarian organizations, and local governments. As the hunger crisis deepens, Nigeria’s leaders and international partners must prioritize food security and work together to mitigate the crisis before it spirals further.
“We cannot afford to wait until the situation worsens,” said Dr. Fashedemi. “This is a call to action for all sectors of society to come together and address the food security challenges we face. The lives of millions of Nigerians, especially children, are at stake.”
