Nigeria Faces Severe Food Insecurity, 161 Million at Risk

Kokcha News Agency: Alhaji Nuhu Kilishi, Director of the Food Security and Nutrition Division at Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has disclosed that around 161 million Nigerians are food insecure, with only 20% of the population having access to secure food supplies. Speaking at a consultation meeting on the “Food and Nutrition Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP)” in Abuja, Kilishi emphasized the urgent need for action to tackle the growing crisis.

Kilishi highlighted that the rate of moderate to severe food insecurity in Nigeria has surged from 35% in 2014 to approximately 74% in recent years. He attributed this alarming increase to rising insecurity, armed attacks, kidnappings, and economic challenges, which have severely impacted agricultural production.

“People are unsure of their next meal. This is a serious situation,” Kilishi stated, underscoring the gravity of the food insecurity crisis.

Government Measures
As part of the government’s response, Kilishi outlined measures under the World Bank-supported “Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN)” project, which aims to provide sustainable and quality nutrition services to vulnerable populations. Additionally, seeds and inputs for home gardening will be distributed across 774 local government areas to boost food production at the household level.