The Federal Government has raised alarm over worsening food insecurity in the country, revealing that about 161 million Nigerians—approximately 80% of the population—are currently food insecure.
This was disclosed on Friday in Abuja by Mr. Nuhu Kilishi, Director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the development of a Food and Nutrition Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP).
Kilishi said the number of food-insecure Nigerians has risen sharply from 35% in 2014 to 74% in recent years. Only 20% of citizens are currently considered food secure—meaning they are sure of their next meal.
He blamed insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, inflation, and high food prices for the alarming trend, noting that many farmers have abandoned their lands due to violence. “It’s a dire situation, especially in crisis-affected areas,” he said.
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To tackle the challenge, the government plans to distribute seeds and farming inputs across Nigeria’s 774 local governments. A World Bank-supported project will cover 21 states, while the remaining 15 states will be funded by the federal government.
Speaking on the same platform, Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, explained that the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, which began in 2018, is moving into a second phase focused on prevention and long-term resilience.
Director of Nutrition at the Ministry of Health, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, cited data showing over 40% of households cannot afford healthy meals, contributing to high maternal and child mortality.
She stressed the importance of a multisectoral response, stating, “Food and nutrition security is not the health sector’s responsibility alone.”
National Project Manager for ANRiN 2.0, Ojuolape Solanke, said a comprehensive response plan will be developed within six months to address future emergencies effectively.
