A staggering 133.1 million Nigerians are projected to confront a worldwide hunger dilemma in 2025, as per the Cadre Harmonisé report on food and nutrition instability.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stated that the report was developed by the federal authorities and aided by collaborators, including the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), among others.
The announcement detailed: “The food and nutrition insecurity assessment, Cadre Harmonisé, spearheaded by the Nigerian government and reinforced by partners, warns of a decline in food security within the country, with 133.1 million individuals anticipated to experience significant food insecurity during the upcoming lean season (June-August).
“This marks a concerning rise of seven million people compared to the same timeframe last year, driven by economic struggles, alongside unprecedented inflation, effects of climate variations, and ongoing violence in the northeastern regions.
“On a national scale, the number of individuals facing emergency levels (Phase 4) of food insecurity is expected to grow. Although no populations are categorized as in dire straits (Phase 5), those experiencing emergency conditions (Phase 4) are predicted to escalate from 1 million individuals at the peak of the 2024 lean season to 1.8 million individuals during the same timeframe in 2025, indicating an 80 percent surge.
“Around 5.4 million children and nearly 800,000 expectant and nursing mothers are at risk of acute malnutrition or wasting in six of the most impacted states: Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in the northeast, alongside Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara in the northwest.
“Among these, a distressing 1.8 million children could be confronted with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and will necessitate urgent nutritional intervention.
“Factors influencing food security in Nigeria are challenged by various elements that continue to worsen the food insecurity crisis, including economic difficulties, along with record-high inflation (which soared to 40.9 percent for food and 34.2 percent for all items in June 2024).