Nigeria’s growing inability to feed its population of 216 million is becoming alarming, exacerbated by widespread Islamist terrorism, banditry, herdsmen attacks, kidnapping, militancy, and severe flooding. A recent United Nations report warns that nearly 25 million Nigerians could face hunger between June and August if urgent action is not taken. This warning should not be ignored by the federal and state governments.

Food prices have skyrocketed, making it difficult for millions to access adequate nutrition. The escalating security crisis, which has driven farmers off their lands, has further aggravated the looming hunger crisis. The UN report projects that the number of food-insecure Nigerians will increase from 17 million to 25 million without immediate action, highlighting continued conflict, climate change, inflation, and rising food prices as key drivers.

Security in the country has deteriorated significantly, leaving farming communities across the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions—the primary food-producing areas—under constant threat. In addition, widespread flooding in 2022 destroyed over 676,000 hectares of farmland, further endangering food security.

Nigeria, ranked 103rd out of 121 countries in the 2022 Global Hunger Index, faces a serious hunger crisis, with food inflation and insecurity worsening daily. Conflict in rural areas, including airstrikes by the Nigerian military against bandits in states like Niger and Zamfara, has failed to bring peace, while Fulani herdsmen continue to terrorize farmers in the North-Central region.

To avert widespread hunger, the federal government must prioritize security and take steps to protect farmers and rural communities. Climate change and the war in Ukraine have further strained the global food supply chain, but Nigeria’s dependence on food imports for staples like rice and wheat puts the nation in a vulnerable position. In the first half of 2022, agricultural imports reached N464.5 billion.

Nigeria’s leaders must act swiftly by bolstering security, promoting large-scale farming, improving food storage systems, and mitigating the impact of future flooding. Industrial-scale agriculture, improved infrastructure, and dry-season farming can help the country recover and stave off the impending food crisis.