The United Nations (UN) has warned that 82 million Nigerians may go hungry by 2030 as a result of the food crisis in the country.
The UN, in its report, said this will be about 64 per cent of Nigeria’s population, urging the Federal Government (FG) to take urgent steps against climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity.
The United Nations prediction and warning come amid an astronomical increase in the prices of food items in Nigeria, with a bag of rice selling for much more than the minimum wage.
The Resident Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation was represented by a UN official, Taofiq Braimoh, at the recent launch of CropWatch in Abuja, and he spoke about a possible food crisis in Nigeria if the FG refuses to act fast.
“The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with others, conducts an annual food security survey. This year’s results are alarming: approximately 22 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2023, and around 80-82 million are at risk of severe food insecurity by 2030,” Braimoh warned.
“Nigeria, like many countries, grapples with food insecurity, climate change, unreliable water patterns, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity. As an agrarian society, our farms’ success directly impacts food availability for our population. Leveraging technology is crucial to strengthening our agriculture sector and ensuring food security.”
According to Braimoh, satellite-based crop monitoring provides real-time data on crop conditions, which he believes will help farmers and policymakers make informed decisions to optimize agricultural practices.
“The technology could help expedite the accomplishment of sustainable development goals in food and agriculture,” he added.
Meanwhile, a recent study by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that Nigeria’s food inflation rate hit a record high of 40.66 per cent in May 2024, surpassing the previous month’s increase of 40.53 per cent. “This surge represents the largest year-on-year increase in food prices since records began in 1996,” the NBS stated.
“Historically, food inflation in Nigeria has averaged 13.42 per cent, with the lowest point of -17.50 per cent in January 2000. In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organisation predicted that no fewer than 2.6 million Nigerians in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, and the FCT may face a food crisis between June and August 2024.”
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