A recent analysis from the Cadre Harmonise has projected that a staggering 31.5 million Nigerians will confront acute hunger during the lean season from June to August 2024. The analysis covers 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with 83,846 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) among the affected population.
The food and nutrition crisis is anticipated to be particularly severe in northeastern states, with Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa expecting 2.1 million, 1.5 million, and 1.1 million people, respectively, in the phase 3 of food and nutrition insecurity. This grim forecast, released in Abuja, is a substantial increase from the November 2023 projection of 26.5 million people.
The Cadre Harmonise report, presented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners, identifies various factors contributing to the alarming food insecurity. These include conflicts and insecurity in the North-east, north central, and north-west regions, fuel scarcity, currency devaluation, rising inflation, and consumer price index.
The report underscores the serious nutritional implications for children under the age of 5, particularly in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and the northwest states of Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Dominique Koffy Kouacou, the FAO country representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, stressed the critical nature of the current challenges, urging stakeholders to double their commitment. While pledging continued support to the Nigerian government, he emphasized the credibility, relevance, and reliability of the data for planning and decision-making.
Temitope Fashedemi, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, expressed enthusiasm for the findings that could shape the nation’s food security approach. Fashedemi highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing issues contributing to food inflation and increased consumer price index. He acknowledged environmental and human factors such as climate change and displacement due to insecurity and emphasized the ministry’s goal to include all 36 states in the Cadre Harmonise analysis process, welcoming further collaboration for this purpose. The outcomes and recommendations from the workshop are expected to play a crucial role in implementing interventions for food and nutrition security.
