Nigeria’s Food Insecurity Crisis: 33.5 Million Nigerians Projected to Face Acute Hunger by 2027

A chilling report by the Cadre Harmonisé, a food security monitoring system, has projected that as many as 33.5 million Nigerians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), could face acute food insecurity by 2027. This alarming forecast is based on the assessment of food security conditions in 26 states across Nigeria. The report, which has not yet been officially released, has been obtained by Tribune Online. The Cadre Harmonisé, which operates under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union, has been monitoring food security conditions in West Africa since 2014. According to the report, the projected food insecurity is largely due to insecurity, conflict, and economic challenges, which have disrupted farming activities and agricultural markets in many parts of the country. The report further indicates that the most affected states are those with a history of conflict, such as Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, as well as Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states. With millions of Nigerians already struggling to access food, the projected food insecurity crisis could have far-reaching implications for the country’s stability and development. The Nigerian government has not yet commented on the report. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has expressed concern about the report and has called on the Nigerian government to take urgent action to address the food insecurity crisis. According to the WFP, the government’s response to the crisis must include improving access to food, providing cash transfers to vulnerable households, and investing in agriculture to increase food production.