A new report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), supported by the World Bank, reveals alarming levels of food insecurity in Nigeria, with 65.8% of households unable to afford healthy, nutritious, or preferred foods in the past 30 days due to financial constraints. This statistic underscores the growing challenge faced by Nigerian households in securing adequate food amidst rising economic pressures.
Key Findings from the General Household Survey-Panel Wave 5 (2023/2024):
- Food Insecurity: The survey highlights that more than two-thirds of Nigerian households are unable to access nutritious or preferred food options, primarily due to a lack of money. Specifically:
- 63.8% of households reported relying on a limited variety of foods due to financial limitations.
- 62.4% expressed concerns about insufficient food supply, while 60.5% admitted eating less food than they needed.
- 12.3% of households revealed that at least one member went a full day without eating, and 20.8% had to borrow food or rely on assistance from friends and family.
- Geographic and Demographic Disparities: The report shows significant regional and gender-based differences in food insecurity levels:
- Southern Nigeria experienced higher levels of food insecurity than the north. For instance, in the South-South zone, over 60% of households skipped meals due to financial difficulties, a stark contrast to the situation in the North Central zone.
- Female-headed households were disproportionately affected, with 72.2% unable to afford nutritious food, compared to 64% of male-headed households. The gap widened in cases where households completely ran out of food, with 55.2% of female-headed households experiencing this, compared to 41.3% of male-headed households.
- Increased Food Insecurity Since 2018: The report also indicates a significant deterioration in food security since the 2018/2019 survey, with the proportion of households expressing concern about food due to financial difficulties nearly doubling from 36.9% in 2018 to 62.4% in 2024.
- The North Central zone saw the largest rise in food insecurity, with food-related concerns tripling from 16.2% to 44.9%.
- North East reported the highest levels of food shortages, with 53% of households facing difficulties, while the North Central zone had the lowest at 25.7%.
- Seasonal Food Shortages: About 37% of households reported experiencing food shortages in the past year, particularly during the months of June, July, and August, which were identified as the most difficult months. 61.6% of those facing shortages experienced them during these months.
Conclusion:
The findings of the report paint a troubling picture of food insecurity in Nigeria, with millions of households struggling to afford sufficient and nutritious food. The economic challenges faced by many, especially female-headed households, have exacerbated the crisis, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions to address food affordability, nutrition challenges, and regional disparities. The sharp increase in food insecurity over the past few years underscores the growing urgency of addressing the nation’s socio-economic issues to ensure better access to food for all Nigerians.
