Recently, the Nigerian government declared a national emergency on food security as record inflation has made basic foods unaffordable for many and pushed up malnutrition rates.
Food prices increased after the new government removed fuel subsidies. It was noted that the funds recovered will be used to improve agricultural productivity and provide fertilizer and grains to farmers.
Recall that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed that 25.3 million Nigerians are likely to face acute food insecurity in the country between June and August 2023, which is the lean season, if not taken care of, increasing the 2022 forecast, which was at 19 million.
Presently, Nigeria is battling its worst inflation in nearly two decades, with an annual rate of 22.4% before the government scrapped the petrol subsidy.
The high inflation and food insecurity were triggered as a result of widespread insecurity and the effects of climate change, all of which reduced the supply of agricultural products on the market, driving up food costs.
Flooding
The Global Rapid Damage Estimation Note, developed by the World Bank’s Disaster-Resilience Analytics and Solutions to assess the impact of the June–November 2022 flood in Nigeria, estimates that the total direct economic damages, based on currently reported statistics as of November 25, 2022, are in the range of $3.79 billion to $9.12 billion, with the best (median) estimate at $6.68 billion.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Nigeria’s agricultural growth slowed to 2.05 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022 owing to the devastating flooding incidents recorded in key crop-producing states and the supply chain obstruction caused by the Russian-Ukraine war.
Last year, Nigeria recorded its worst flooding in a decade, and authorities have been warning citizens of potential risks this year.
Ibrahim Kabiru, national president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), also agreed that the devastating flooding that destroyed hundreds of acres of farmland across the country contributed to slow growth and food insecurity.
The 2022 Global Food Security Index, which ranks countries based on food affordability, availability, quality, and safety, ranked Nigeria 107 out of 113 countries.
This is a notable drop from its previous rank of 97 in 2021.
This is to say that climate change, violence, and the crisis have immensely contributed to the effect of inflation in the country.
Climate change and food insecurity
For decades, the effects of climate change have contributed to decreased food production. This is a global problem, but it is more prevalent in developing countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa, which is among the most affected in the tropical world. The varieties of food crops cultivated in these regions are heavily impacted by changes in climate.
Nigeria is among the countries that relies heavily on agriculture for its survival, while its productivity relies on weather patterns like rainfall. The country is very vulnerable to climate change and natural hazards such as rising temperatures, gully erosion, drought, and increased flooding.
In 2022, Nigeria was hit by devastating floods that killed more than 500 people, displaced more than 1.4 million, and destroyed about 90,000 homes. Analysis from the World Weather Attribution Group found that climate change was likely responsible for the heavy rains that caused the flooding.
The floods destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland, worsening the already severe food insecurity in the country. Crops were destroyed, and the floods cost the agricultural sector about C$2 billion in damages.
In addition, the arid regions of the northwest and northeastern parts of Nigeria are currently facing substantial challenges from drought and land degradation. Both issues have a significant impact on food security as they result in less water being available for crops.
Violence and food crises
Compounding the climate change crisis is the rise in violence orchestrated by armed groups like the Boko Haram extremist group, farmer herders, and other forms of insecurity.
Violence, armed banditry, and kidnappings have affected food access across Nigeria. This violence has affected northern Nigeria in particular, where the bulk of food production occurs, and 8.4 million people are currently food insecure.
Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and armed herders have forced at least 78,000 farmers to abandon their farmland in Borno, Katsina, Taraba, the Plateau, and other northern states.
The farmer-herder conflict in the Middle Belt region, a key crop-producing area of Nigeria,
The insurgency, along with land and water scarcity, has forced nomadic herders from the north to migrate south in search of grazing lands and water for their livestock. As a result, the herders have clashed violently with local farmers over resources.
Nigeria is currently at a crossroads. Without taking immediate action, the number of Nigerians who are food insecure will continue to increase.
More than 5.9 million children in northwest and northeast Nigeria experienced acute malnutrition between May 2022 and April 2023. More than 1.6 million of these children suffered from severe acute malnutrition.
To tackle food insecurity in Nigeria, farmers need to adopt modern practices, including building agricultural hubs to enhance productivity, guaranteeing minimal prices for certain crops and animal products, and creating storage facilities to reduce food waste.
The government should adopt a multi-faceted approach to address the food insecurity crisis. This kind of approach would integrate climate action, modern livestock and farming techniques, and security measures to mitigate the impacts climate change and violent conflict are having on Nigeria’s food insecurity.