Nigeria Ranked Among the Top Ten Countries Hit Hardest by Food Inflation
The World Bank has identified Nigeria as one of the ten countries most severely impacted by food inflation globally. According to the World Bank's food security report for September, Nigeria ranks as the fifth country hardest hit by food inflation worldwide and the third in Africa, only behind Malawi and Liberia.
Key Findings from the Report
- The most affected country by food inflation is Haiti, with a 12% year-on-year increase in food inflation. Haiti is followed by Malawi, Vietnam, Liberia, and then Nigeria.
- Nigeria’s worsening food security conditions are attributed to conflicts in food-producing regions and environmental challenges caused by climate change.
- Nigeria, along with countries like Ethiopia and Yemen, has experienced a significant increase in the number of people facing high levels of food insecurity due to intensified conflict and climate-related shocks.
Rising Food Insecurity in Nigeria and West Africa
The report highlights that there has been a 28% increase in the number of food-insecure people in Nigeria between August 2023 and September 2024. Extreme weather events have further exacerbated food insecurity across West Africa, leading several countries to declare states of emergency.
Key contributing factors to food insecurity in West Africa include:
- Deteriorating security conditions
- Low agricultural production
- Soaring food prices
- Disrupted markets
- Frequent and severe extreme weather events
The Cadre Harmonisé analysis revealed that these issues have led to nearly 55 million people facing food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher) during the lean season from June to August 2024.
Impact of Floods on Agriculture in Nigeria
The report also mentioned that approximately 1.6 million hectares of land have been flooded in Nigeria, including 342,650 hectares of cropland. This has affected 685,770 vulnerable individuals, further threatening food security in the country.
Threats to Food Security in Nigeria
The insecurity in food-producing regions, coupled with climate change and other structural challenges, continues to threaten Nigeria’s food situation. According to a report by S.B. Morgan Intelligence, at least 1,356 farmers were killed between 2020 and 2024, mainly in the northern regions of Nigeria. This has led to significant challenges for farmers, including having to pay high sums to access their farms.
Food Inflation and Economic Impact
Nigeria's food inflation reached a 28-year record high of 40.87% in June 2024 before showing signs of stabilization. However, recent developments, such as an upward review of petrol prices by NNPCL and flooding in parts of the North and Niger-Delta states, have reignited concerns about rising food prices.
Earlier this year, the World Bank projected that seven states in Northern Nigeria would face severe hunger. Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported that 32% of Nigerians—approximately 16% of the country's population—are currently facing hunger.
Conclusion
The World Bank's report highlights the severe impact of food inflation and food insecurity in Nigeria, driven by a combination of conflict, climate change, and economic factors. Addressing these challenges will be critical to improving food security and reducing the vulnerability of millions of Nigerians to hunger and malnutrition.
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