Onome Amuge
A recent report using the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) method has predicted that approximately 33.1 million Nigerians will be impacted by severe food and nutrition insecurity by mid-2025.
The report released by the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and multiple partners, suggests that an alarming 25 million people in Nigeria are expected to face severe food insecurity by December 2024.
This acute food insecurity is predicted to be particularly severe in the North-East and Central regions of the country, where millions of people are projected to be impacted.
The report identified persistent insecurity, inflation, climate shocks, and high poverty rates as primary factors contributing to the looming crisis.
According to the findings, over 514,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara States are at risk of crisis-level food insecurity or worse between June and August 2025. This includes residents of 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
With food consumption and nutrition becoming pressing concerns, the report predicted that many Nigerian households will likely struggle with severe food consumption deficits during the lean season next year.
It noted that as the country moves towards its annual lean season, when food insecurity typically increases, families across Nigeria may find themselves facing difficult choices as they struggle to meet their basic nutritional needs.
The report warned that if Nigerians continue to face disrupted livelihoods and mounting economic pressures, many communities may face a dangerous transition from moderate to severe food consumption phases.
The survey further emphasised that acute malnutrition levels have reached alarming rates in several regions of the country, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the need for swift action to address the growing crisis.
Examples cited in the report revealed that the crisis has taken a particularly devastating toll on Borno State, with Maiduguri recording an 18.1 percent rate of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM). Similarly, Jere, a local government areain the state has reached a critical level of 14.9 percent GAM.
In Northern and Central Katsina State, the situation is equally severe, with multiple local government areas reporting alarming rates of acute malnutrition.
The Cadre Harmonisé report stressed the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to address the looming crisis, including the provision of emergency food assistance, the implementation of resilience-building programmes, and targeted support for vulnerable households.
The report emphasised that the federal government and international donors must act quickly to prevent a severe humanitarian crisis in 2025.
Kouacou Dominique Koffy, FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, underscored the critical need for swift action and a unified approach to tackle the escalating food and nutrition crisis.
Koffy, who was represented by Tofiq Braimah, stated, “With the concerted efforts of government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can move closer to alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable.”
Temitope Fashedemi,permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the findings of the report and its potential to guide food and nutrition security programs across states.
Speaking through Kilishi Mohammed, Fashedemi acknowledged the significant contributions of multiple partners and sectors in ensuring the quality and scope of the report, emphasising the importance of collective effort in tackling the complex challenges of food and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria.
