The Cadre Harmonisé (CH) report, has estimated that between June and August 2024, approximately 31.5 million Nigerians will face a severe food and nutrition crisis.
The CH report is a comprehensive study on food and nutrition insecurity conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The report also reveals that around 24.7 million people, encompassing 14,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are anticipated to encounter food shortages between March and May 2024.
Specifically, the report highlights concerning figures for certain regions: approximately 1.1 million individuals in Adamawa, 2.1 million in Borno, and 1.5 million in Yobe are expected to endure crisis-level food shortages or worse during the specified period.
Moreover, the report underlines the current strain on food consumption in various states, with crisis situations identified in certain local government areas (LGAs) within Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, and Yobe, as well as Zamfara States. Additionally, deteriorated food consumption patterns were observed among populations in inaccessible areas and IDP camps in Adamawa, Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Looking ahead to the projected period of June to August 2024, the report forecasts a worsening situation, with more households expected to face crisis-level food consumption.
Read Also:
The report attributes the impending crisis primarily to the surge in food prices, which has been linked to the removal of petroleum subsidies. It identifies various contributing factors to the food crisis, including insecurity, fuel shortages, currency devaluation, and escalating inflation and consumer price index (CPI) rates.
Insecurity, in particular, has had devastating consequences, leading to the loss of livelihoods in several states, including Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Yobe.
Furthermore, poor macroeconomic conditions have hindered access to agricultural inputs, exacerbated by high transportation costs, inflation rates, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate, which have collectively eroded household incomes.
Looking ahead, the report anticipates that poor microeconomic conditions and ongoing conflicts will further restrict access to livelihood opportunities between June and August 2024.
Notably, the nutrition situation is alarming, with malnutrition rates among children under the age of five reaching crisis levels in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, as well as in the northwest states of Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
“The consequences of insecurity have led to the loss of livelihoods in Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Yobe states,” the report added.
“Poor macroeconomic conditions are restricting access to agricultural inputs in the country; the high cost of transport, inflation rate, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate have negatively affected households’ income.
“In the projected period (June to August 2024), poor microeconomic conditions and conflicts are expected to drive limited access to livelihood opportunities.
“The nutrition situation in the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe and northwest states of Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara revealed the prevalence of malnutrition for under-5 children to be in crisis in the current situation.”
