Hunger Crisis: Nigeria’s Agricultural Failure Fuels Widespread Starvation

The Growing Hunger Crisis

For a country with vast agricultural potential, it is alarming that above 170 million Nigerians are unable to afford a healthy diet, as reported in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 report.

The grim statistics highlight Nigeria’s continued struggle to meet basic human needs. The report places Nigeria alongside countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Syria, and Yemen—nations notorious for persistent food crises over the past eight years.

A shocking 78.7 per cent of Nigerians couldn’t afford a healthy diet as of 2022, according to the report. The situation has steadily worsened since 2017, with the number of undernourished citizens rising from 143.8 million in 2017 to 172 million in 2022.

“How is it possible that in a nation with nearly 70 million hectares of arable land, so many people go hungry?” asked a frustrated local farmer.

The Cost of a Healthy Diet

As of 2022, a Nigerian would need about $3.83 (N1,767.55) per day to afford a healthy diet, a figure that has been increasing steadily since 2017. Nigeria ranks fifth in West Africa in terms of the cost of a healthy diet, behind Mauritania, Ghana, Cape Verde, and Niger Republic.

The average national cost of a healthy diet rose to N1,241 per adult per day in June 2024, up from N858 in January 2024, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

This rising cost has hit ordinary Nigerians hard. Many now substitute meat and fish with carrots and cucumber for their meals.

Over the past year, staple foods have seen unprecedented price hikes: rice has increased by 129 percent, garri by 79 percent, beans by 217 percent, and yam by an astonishing 428 percent.

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“We used to eat meat every day, now we can only afford it once a month,” lamented a mother of four in Lagos.

Why Is Nigeria Failing?

The rising population, decreasing food sufficiency, reliance on imports, naira devaluation, higher fuel and transportation costs, armed conflicts, and banditry are key contributors to Nigeria’s hunger crisis.

The 2023 Global Hunger Index ranked Nigeria 109th out of 125 countries, with a score indicating a serious level of hunger. Nigeria is also home to more than 10 million stunted children, the highest number in Africa and the second highest globally.

Despite agriculture being the largest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP, low yields, outdated farming practices, and inadequate infrastructure have negatively affected productivity.

The country’s tractor density is 0.27 hp/hectare, far below the FAO-recommended 1.5 hp/hectare. Moreover, storage systems are outdated, leading to massive post-harvest losses, and rural roads are in deplorable condition.

Government’s Response and Its Shortcomings

In response to the food crisis, the Federal Government announced a 150-day duty-free import window for food products in July 2024.

However, the impact of this measure has yet to be felt. An ad hoc initiative to supply rice at subsidized rates to civil servants failed when recipients resold the rice at a significant profit.

Despite the government’s rhetoric about prioritizing agriculture, the 2024 budget allocated only N362.9 billion to the sector, a mere 1.26 percent of the national budget, far below the 10 percent commitment Nigeria made under the Maputo Declaration. This reflects a lack of genuine commitment to addressing the hunger crisis.

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024 report calls for better execution and quality of budget spending on food security. Yet, insecurity remains the biggest challenge. With farming becoming increasingly dangerous due to armed banditry and kidnappings, many farmers have abandoned their fields.

The Role of Security in the Hunger Crisis

The persistent insecurity, particularly in the North, has exacerbated the food crisis. Farming in states like Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe has become a life-threatening occupation.

In states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue, and Niger, armed banditry and kidnapping have made food production nearly impossible.

The federal police, with its 371,000 officers for a population of 230 million, is woefully under-resourced. The police-to-citizen ratio of 1:621 is far below the UN-recommended 1:460, and police protection is disproportionately focused on the elite, leaving many towns and villages without adequate security.

“The government must take security seriously if we are to overcome this crisis,” urged a local community leader. Some states have formed special security and vigilante groups that have been successful in curbing banditry and kidnappings. These efforts should be formalized and supported to strengthen security nationwide.

A Call to Action

The hunger crisis in Nigeria is not just a failure of agriculture; it is a failure of governance, security, and economic policy.

Immediate action is needed to revamp the agricultural sector, address security challenges, and ensure that every Nigerian can afford a healthy diet.

The government must also revitalize school feeding programs to ensure that children do not go hungry while state officials squander public funds on frivolous expenditures.