February 11, 2025/CSL Research
Despite Nigeria’s large population and abundant agricultural resources, the country faces significant challenges in achieving food security. Economic, political, environmental, and social factors have contributed to widespread food insecurity. According to the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 40% of Nigerians experience moderate to severe food insecurity. With a GHI score of 28.8 out of 50, Nigeria faces a “serious” hunger crisis.
The World Food Programme (WFP) estimated that 33.1 million Nigerians faced acute hunger during the June–August 2024 lean season, a sharp increase from the 25.1 million recorded at the end of 2023. The situation is expected to deteriorate further in 2025. Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are anticipated to be hardest hit, with five million people at risk of acute food insecurity.
Additionally, hunger hotspots are emerging in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states, highlighting the crisis’s widespread impact.
Nigeria’s food insecurity has reached its worst level in decades, exacerbated by a depreciating naira, insufficient domestic agricultural production, and reliance on costly food imports.
Violent conflicts—including insurgency in the northeast, armed banditry in the northwest, and farmer-herder clashes in the north-central and southwest—further disrupt food supply chains. Rising agricultural input costs, poorly implemented agricultural policies, and escalating transportation expenses compound the problem. Climate change also plays a critical role, with frequent and severe floods disrupting food production, reducing availability, and driving up prices. In 2024, food inflation exceeded 35%, prompting the Federal Government to temporarily suspend import duties on maize, rice, wheat, and cowpeas for 150 days to improve food supply.
Food scarcity and high inflation are expected to persist in 2025. To address this crisis, the Nigerian government must diversify the economy by reducing its reliance on oil and promoting agribusiness. Encouraging agricultural investment, strengthening policy implementation, and ensuring effective monitoring and enforcement are essential.
Additionally, promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture to improve resilience to climate change is crucial for safeguarding food production. Enhancing rural security is also vital to protect farmers and farmlands, thereby boosting agricultural output. Long-term solutions are necessary to achieve sustainable food security and reduce hunger in Nigeria.
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