October 2, 2026/CSL Report
Nigeria continues to face significant food-security challenges despite the recent moderation in inflation. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an estimated 36.3 million Nigerians experienced Crisis-level food insecurity or worse during the June-August 2026 lean season, representing approximately 16.7% of the population covered by the assessment and up from more than 30.6 million during the corresponding period of 2025. We highlight that the deterioration reflects the combined effects of insecurity, elevated food prices, displacement, climate-related disruptions, and weak household purchasing power, underscoring the persistent disconnect between improving macroeconomic conditions and household welfare.
The situation remains particularly severe in the North-East, where prolonged insecurity continues to restrict access to farmland, markets, and humanitarian assistance. FAO estimates that more than 3.7 million people were internally displaced nationwide as of early August, with approximately two-thirds located in Borno State. Insurgency, kidnapping and banditry have disrupted farming activities and displaced rural communities, limiting agricultural production and access to food. Farmer-herder conflicts across parts of the North-Central and other agricultural regions have further affected cultivation and livestock activities, leaving farming-dependent households vulnerable to disruptions in production and market access. Climate-related risks are compounding these challenges, with flooding and other extreme weather events threatening agricultural output, particularly in rural and low-lying areas. We highlight that over the last couple of weeks, there have been increased incidence of flooding, prompting authorities to urge residents in flood-prone communities to relocate to safer areas.
We believe that addressing the food insecurity challenge will require interventions across both agricultural production and food distribution. Strengthening security in rural areas would enable farmers to return to their farms, while investment in rural roads, storage facilities and irrigation could reduce post-harvest losses and improve market access. Greater adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, including drought and flood-resistant crop varieties and improved water management, would also strengthen resilience to weather-related shocks. Moreover, government support for smallholder farmers through improved access to inputs, financing, and extension services could strengthen domestic food production. Meanwhile, targeted social-protection and nutrition programmes will remain important in cushioning vulnerable households from elevated food costs, particularly internally displaced people and low-income communities.
Click here to download full report: CSL Nigeria Daily – 2 October – Food Insecurity