From News Editor
Nigeria’s food security crisis may have reached the crescendo, following the federal government admittance that an estimated 161 million citizens—about 74% of the population—are now food insecure.
This figure highlights the depth of hardship and poverty ravaging the masses under President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, which critics say have compounded inflation and worsened poverty nationwide.
Nuhu Kilishi, Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed the figures on Friday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ meeting on developing a Food and Nutrition, Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP).
The plan, part of the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, seeks to mitigate the mounting threat of widespread malnutrition.
Kilishi painted a grim picture, noting that the proportion of Nigerians facing moderate and severe food insecurity had more than doubled from 35% in 2014 to 74% today. “Only about 20% of Nigerians are currently food secure, meaning they are certain of their next meal,” he said.
While longstanding security challenges such as banditry and kidnappings have curtailed farming activities, experts point to the Tinubu administration’s harsh economic reforms—including the removal of fuel subsidies and repeated devaluations of the naira—as key accelerants of food price hikes. These policies have pushed inflation to multi-decade highs, eroding household purchasing power and pricing nutritious food far beyond the reach of most Nigerians.
Inflation on food items hit 40% in June 2025, according to official figures, as the cascading effects of higher transport and production costs ripple through markets. The soaring prices of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs have left many farmers unable to plant, while urban families are forced to make do with fewer meals.
Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, a Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. She said the ANRiN project, which began in 2018 with an initial $232 million commitment, is shifting to a more proactive approach by strengthening local systems to prevent food crises rather than merely reacting to them.
Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, referenced the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey, which showed that over 40% of Nigerian households cannot afford nutritious diets. “This is directly linked to high maternal and child mortality rates and the prevalence of malnutrition in the country,” she said.
Despite the dire statistics, the government is racing to craft a coordinated response. Kilishi noted that targeted interventions, such as distributing seeds and inputs for homestead gardening across Nigeria’s 774 local governments, are underway.
However, these efforts are still heavily reliant on external financing. “We have secured World Bank funding to implement the plan in 21 states, with federal resources covering the remaining 15,” he said.
The urgency of the matter was underscored by Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent directive for a national food and nutrition preparedness plan. Ojuolape Solanke, National Project Manager for ANRiN 2.0, said that within the next six months, Nigeria aims to finalize a comprehensive strategy that coordinates the efforts of the ministries of Agriculture, Budget and Economic Planning, and Health.
Yet for many Nigerians struggling under crushing food prices and an economy battered by Tinubu’s economic policies, relief seems distant. As incomes stagnate and basic necessities slip further out of reach, the specter of a deeper humanitarian crisis looms—one that underscores how economic policies, without adequate safety nets, can swiftly translate into hunger for millions. {Abati Media}