Food security in Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa; a residence for more than 206 million people. Hunger is one of the major issues that affect the citizens. 40% (82 million people) of the citizens live below the International Poverty Line of $1.90 daily, whilst another 25% are vulnerable. Nigeria was ranked second poorest in food affordability globally by the Institute of Development Studies, United Kingdom.

This is due to a number of factors, including climate change, environmental degradation like deforestation conflict, and poverty.

Causes
Factors that contribute to the hunger in various states of Nigeria are insecurity, environmental factors such as habitat destruction, economic challenges, and devastating effects of COVID-19.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to food security in Nigeria. The country is already experiencing the effects of climate change, such as more frequent droughts and floods. These weather events can damage crops and livestock, making it difficult for farmers to produce enough food.

Conflict is another major threat to food security in Nigeria. The country is currently facing a number of conflicts, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast and the farmer-herder conflict in the Middle Belt. These conflicts have displaced millions of people and made it difficult for farmers to access their land.

Poverty is also a major factor contributing to food insecurity in Nigeria. Many people in Nigeria cannot afford to buy enough food. This is due to low wages, high food prices, and unemployment.

Impacts
Food insecurity has a number of negative consequences for Nigeria. It can lead to malnutrition, which can impair physical and mental development. It can also lead to social unrest, as people become desperate for food. There are many consequences of hunger, namely malnutrition, undernutrition, nutritional deficiencies child wasting. According to UNICEF, there are three main outcomes: underweight at 36.4%, stunting at 41.3%, wasting at 15.6%.