Nigeria is facing a deepening hunger crisis, with more than 30 million people projected to experience food insecurity next year, marking a significant increase from the current figures, according to a joint report released Friday by the Nigerian government and the United Nations.
The crisis, which could affect 33.1 million people by August 2025, is being driven by economic hardships, soaring inflation, and escalating food and transportation costs, the report indicated. This projection represents a substantial rise from the 24.8 million Nigerians expected to be food insecure by the end of 2024.
The cost-of-living crisis in Africa’s most populous nation has worsened following recent austerity reforms implemented by President Bola Tinubu. These include the removal of a long-standing fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, both of which have further fueled inflation and made basic goods, especially food, increasingly unaffordable.
“These economic decisions, while aimed at long-term stability, have directly impacted people’s purchasing power, affecting families every time they try to buy food,” noted Chi Lael, spokesperson for the World Food Programme in Nigeria.
According to Finance Minister Wale Edun, the government has introduced cash relief measures, distributing 25,000 naira (around $15.45) to 5 million households as part of a broader program to support vulnerable families.
Compounding the issue, persistent flooding and insecurity in the agricultural northern states have disrupted crop production, further driving up food prices. Recent floods reportedly destroyed 1.6 million hectares of crops, especially in the country’s agricultural heartland, potentially resulting in a shortfall of approximately 1.1 million tonnes in maize, sorghum, and rice. This deficit would be enough to meet the daily food needs of 13 million people for a year, the report added, with projected economic losses nearing $1 billion.
Nigeria’s inflation rate, already high, surged to 32.7% in September, with food prices contributing the most to this increase, reflecting the severe impact of disrupted food supplies and rising production costs.
