As food crisis persists, 82 million Nigerians may face severe hunger, says UN

Amid food insecurity in Nigeria, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an arm of the United Nations, has warned that by 2030, about 80 to 82 million Nigerians may slip into severe hunger.

Mr. Taofiq Braimoh, who represented the Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, disclosed this at the CropWatch launch in Abuja.

According to him, approximately 22 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2023, citing a recent survey.

“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,” he said.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s food inflation rose to 40.66 percent in May 2024. Persecondnews recalls.

The report showed that staple foods like rice, beans, garlic, yam, and others rose by at least 130 percent.

The development has further worsened the misery index and access to food for millions of Nigerians.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared an emergency on food insecurity, but the problem has persisted.

The government has also introduced several measures and interventions.

Persecondnews recalls that Tinubu recently directed governors to submit their large-scale food production programmes.