New projections from the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis indicate that approximately 33.1 million Nigerians will face acute food and nutrition insecurity by mid-2025. The report, released on Friday, is a collaboration between the federal government, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), and various partners.
By December 2024, an estimated 25 million people are expected to experience acute food insecurity, with the North-East and Central regions being the most severely affected. The crisis is driven by persistent insecurity, rising inflation, climate shocks, and high poverty rates.
The report highlights that over 514,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara States will likely face crisis-level food insecurity or worse between June and August 2025. This situation will impact residents across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
As Nigeria approaches its annual lean season, many households are predicted to experience significant food consumption deficits. If disrupted livelihoods and economic pressures continue, communities may shift from moderate stress to critical food consumption levels.
The report also reveals alarming rates of acute malnutrition in several regions. For instance, Maiduguri in Borno State has reported a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 18.1%, with nearby Jere at 14.9%. Other areas in Northern and Central Katsina State face similarly dire conditions.
The CH report emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive interventions, including emergency food assistance, resilience-building programs, and targeted support for vulnerable households, to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis in 2025.
FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Kouacou Dominique Koffy, urged for a unified approach to address food and nutrition security. In a statement delivered by Tofiq Braimah, Koffy noted, “With the concerted efforts of government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can move closer to alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable.”
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 guide food and nutrition security programs across states, recognizing the contributions of various partners in maintaining the report’s quality and scope.
