Report Shows 33 Million Nigerians Could Face Food Crisis by 2025

The latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) report has warned that 33.1 million Nigerians across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may face a severe food and nutrition crisis between June and August 2025. Released in Abuja, the report outlines an escalating crisis driven by economic challenges, climate impacts, and security issues.

Conducted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and other partners, the report names the most at-risk states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa, and Kaduna in northern Nigeria. Southern states such as Cross River, Enugu, and Lagos are also identified as facing critical food security issues.

The report reveals that 25 million Nigerians are already struggling with food shortages, including 514,474 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in conflict-affected areas like Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara. Kouacou Koffy, FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, highlighted the gravity of the situation, urging for immediate action to address Nigeria’s food insecurity.

“With the concerted efforts of the government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can move closer to alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations,” Koffy said. “We are facing unprecedented challenges that threaten livelihoods and food and nutrition security not just in Nigeria but globally.”

Koffy cited multiple contributing factors, including high inflation driving up food and agricultural commodity prices, as well as climate-related events such as flooding and droughts that disrupt farming activities. Insecurity has also been a major hurdle, making it dangerous for farmers to access their fields and harvest crops.

Balama Dauda, the CH Focal Person for Nigeria’s National Programme on Food Security, identified these factors as key drivers of the crisis. “High food prices, severe flooding, and ongoing security issues are putting millions at risk of hunger,” Dauda stated, stressing the need for urgent interventions.

CH analysis workshops aim to assess food security data to better identify high-risk areas, prioritize assistance, and suggest targeted solutions. Described by Koffy as the “most reliable and widely accepted early warning tool for humanitarian programming,” the CH analysis guides humanitarian and food security responses by identifying where aid is needed most.

Temitope Fashedemi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, pledged government commitment to address these challenges, promising to use the report’s findings to guide food security programs across the country. “The government is dedicated to applying these insights to inform and shape food and nutrition security programs in every state,” Fashedemi assured.