The looming threat of a food crisis in Nigeria is intensifying as floods continue to ravage farmlands across 10 northern states. Agricultural experts and industry stakeholders are raising alarms, warning that the situation could worsen unless immediate and drastic measures are taken.
The affected states—Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kebbi—have been hit hard by heavy rainfall, resulting in extensive damage to crops. The floods, combined with the ongoing risk of drought, are endangering the country’s food security, particularly in the North.
Bello Yakazsi, an agricultural investor from Bauchi State, urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector.
“We have limited control over Mother Nature, but we must do everything within our power to prevent hunger and starvation. This is not the time for politics; it’s a matter of survival,”Yakazsi said.
Farmers across the affected regions are expressing deep concern over the potential losses they face. In Kano State, where 14 local government areas (LGAs) are at high risk of flooding, farmers are praying for relief as the relentless rainfall continues.
Mallam Musa Sani, a farmer from Rimin Gado, shared his fears: “Since the beginning of August, we’ve had heavy rainfall daily. Too much rain is stunting the growth of our crops, and if the floods come, we’ll lose everything.”
In Jigawa State, the situation is particularly dire. Dr. Haruna Mairiga, Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, revealed that over 2,744 hectares of farmland across 12 LGAs have been destroyed by floods.
“Farmers have lost more than N1 billion worth of crops,” Mairiga stated, highlighting the devastating economic impact on the region.
Zamfara State is also grappling with severe flooding, which has washed away thousands of hectares of farmland. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned that more heavy rainfall is expected, further exacerbating the crisis.
The Secretary of the Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Bala Gusau, lamented the widespread damage, noting that poor waste disposal practices and the construction of buildings on waterways have worsened the flooding.
Farmers like Sanusi Garba, who have been displaced by the floods, are pleading for urgent assistance.
“We are now homeless and in desperate need of food and basic necessities,” Garba said.
In Yobe State, the flooding has been so severe that entire towns and villages have been submerged, leading to organized prayer sessions as residents seek divine intervention.
Musa Dikko, a rice farmer, called for immediate relief efforts, stating, “We need on-the-ground assessments to understand the scale of the devastation and to provide appropriate help.”
Similar scenes of devastation are unfolding in Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue, and Adamawa states, where heavy rains and inconsistent rainfall patterns have wreaked havoc on agricultural production. In Benue, farmers are facing significant financial losses due to insufficient rainfall, with crops drying up before they can mature.
In Kaduna State, rice farmers are dealing with the dual challenges of flooding and erratic rainfall. However, the state chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Muhammad Umar, remains hopeful, saying that continued rainfall could still lead to a successful harvest if farmers receive the necessary support.
The ongoing crisis has prompted calls for a revival of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, which provided financial support to farmers under the previous administration.
“We need to improve security and review the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to ensure food security,” Umar emphasized.