By 2025, 33 million Nigerians are expected to face acute food insecurity, a 7 million increase from 2024, driven by economic hardship, high inflation, climate change, and ongoing violence in northeastern states.
-Approximately 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant/breastfeeding women are at risk of acute malnutrition in six states, with 1.8 million children facing severe acute malnutrition (SAM) requiring urgent treatment.
-Economic hardships, including a 40.9% inflation rate for food and rising food prices (e.g., beans up 282% and rice up 153%), are worsening food insecurity, compounded by the devaluation of the naira and the removal of fuel subsidies.
-The effects of climate change, including floods, and the persistent conflict in the northeast are driving up food insecurity, with the northeast and northwest regions identified as major hunger hotspots.
-The UN and partners stress the importance of immediate multi-sectoral support, with calls for addressing the root causes of food insecurity, particularly restoring peace in conflict zones like the northeast, to prevent a potential food and nutrition disaster.
Peoplesmind
