More than 33 million Nigerians are projected to experience hunger in 2025 as food prices soar due to escalating conflict, economic challenges, and climate change impacts, according to the latest Cadre Harmonise report.
Compiled by Nigerian officials, the UN, and key NGOs, the report monitors food security in 26 crisis-prone states in Nigeria’s north and centre.
Currently, 25.1 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity even during the peak harvest season. This figure is expected to climb to 33.1 million next year, spurred by the weakening Naira, skyrocketing import prices, and recent fuel subsidy cuts, which have raised distribution costs.
The World Food Programme warned that 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition.
Contributing factors include insurgency in the northeast, rising violence, and climate impacts like desertification, which have increased competition for resources. Soaring inflation has seen staple prices spike drastically, with beans rising 282% and locally grown rice up 153% over the past year. Meanwhile, severe flooding last month damaged around 1.6 million hectares of farmland, adding to the crisis.
President Bola Tinubu’s government has responded by suspending import duties on essential food items, while the UN has called for more support from international donors and Nigerian authorities. A detailed report with specific recommendations will follow.