A recent Cadre Harmonisé (CH) report, released yesterday, forecasts that approximately 33.1 million Nigerians will confront acute food and nutrition insecurity by mid-2025.
This analysis was conducted by the federal government in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and several partners.
The report indicates that by December 2024, around 25 million people are expected to experience acute food insecurity, with the North-East and North-Central regions of Nigeria bearing the brunt of the crisis.
Key factors contributing to this alarming situation include ongoing insecurity, rising inflation, climate-related shocks, and pervasive poverty. The report highlights that over 514,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara States are anticipated to face crisis-level food insecurity or worse between June and August 2025, impacting residents across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Food consumption and nutritional issues are set to worsen, especially as the nation approaches its annual lean season next year, with many households likely to encounter severe food consumption deficits. If the disruption of livelihoods continues alongside mounting economic pressures, the report warns that communities may shift from moderate stress to more critical food insecurity levels.
Acute malnutrition has reached alarming rates in several regions, particularly in Borno State, where Maiduguri reports a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 18.1%. The situation is similarly dire in other Local Government Areas across Northern and Central Katsina State.
The Cadre Harmonisé assessment underscores the urgent need for comprehensive interventions, including emergency food assistance, resilience-building programs, and targeted support for vulnerable households to prevent further deterioration.
The report urges both the Nigerian government and international donors to take immediate action to avert a significant humanitarian crisis in 2025.
FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Kouacou Dominique Koffy, emphasized the necessity for urgent priorities and a unified approach to tackle food and nutrition security. Represented by Tofiq Braimah, Koffy stated, “Through concerted efforts among government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can work towards alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.”
In response to the report, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Temitope Fashedemi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the report’s findings to enhance food and nutrition security programs nationwide. Fashedemi, represented by Kilishi Mohammed, acknowledged the contributions of various partners and sectors in maintaining the report’s quality and scope.
