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BENEDICTA BASSEY writes that despite the efforts of the Federal Government to tackle hunger, food insecurity and other socio-economic problems, millions of Nigerians are still groaning under the heavy weight of hunger, poverty and food insecurity
Food crisis in Nigeria has reached the peak point, with millions of people facing acute food insecurity which has impacted negatively on the lives of citizens.
This issue is not just a result of a single factor but rather a confluence of multiple and complex challenges that have compounded over the years.
Nigeria, a country known for its rich agricultural heritage and blessed with abundance of resources has in recent times found itself grappling with severe food crises.
This predicament is not just the result of internal challenges but the issue gained momentum after the closure of borders with neighbouring countries by the then President Muhammadu Buhari with the aim to boost local manufacturing and food production.
Buhari's intention was geared towards agriculture even as he sought to ensure Nigerians embrace agriculture to ensure the production of goods and services in August 2019.
Nigeria partially closed its land borders. The impact of these closures has rippled through the economy, highlighting the delicate balance of regional interdependence and the vulnerability of Nigeria's food security.
The primary issue stems from the disruption of food imports. Nigeria relies heavily on neighbouring countries for various staple foods, including rice, tomatoes, and other essential commodities.
The border closures, among other things, aimed at curbing smuggling and boosting local production, have instead led to supply chain disruptions, skyrocketing food prices, and increased scarcity. As a result, the average Nigerians are spending a larger portion of their incomes on food, with many households unable to afford basic necessities.
Moreover, the closures have also stifled the movement of goods and people, impeding agricultural trade and commerce.
Farmers and traders who depend on cross-border trade are facing significant losses, which in turn affect local food production and distribution. The reduced availability of fertilizers and other agricultural inputs from neighbouring countries has further diminished crop yields and compounded the crisis.
The Nigerian government’s efforts to promote self-sufficiency in food production are commendable, but the abrupt nature of the border closures has revealed a lack of preparedness and resilience within the agriculture sector.
The current situation underscores the need for a more gradual and strategic approach towards achieving food security. Investing in agricultural infrastructure, providing support to local farmers, and fostering regional cooperation are essential steps.
However, another drivers of the food insecurity is conflict, particularly in the northeastern part of the country.
The Boko Haram insurgency and clashes between farmers and herders have displaced millions of people, disrupting agricultural activities and markets. This displacement has significantly reduced food production and accessibility, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition.
Climate change is another significant factor contributing to the crisis. Erratic weather patterns, including prolonged droughts and unpredictable rainfall, have adversely affected crop yields. Nigeria's reliance on rain-fed agriculture makes it especially vulnerable to these climate impacts. Additionally, flooding in some regions has destroyed crops and livestock, further diminishing food supplies.
Economic instability and poverty also play crucial roles in the food crisis. High inflation rates and the devaluation of the Naira have led to soaring food prices, making it difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic necessities. The COVID-19 pandemic also worsened the situation, disrupting supply chains and livelihoods, pushing more people into poverty and food insecurity.
Government policies and corruption have also hindered effective responses to the food crisis. Inadequate support for smallholder farmers, poor infrastructure, and limited access to credit have stymied agricultural productivity.
Furthermore, corruption has often diverted resources away from those who need them most, undermining efforts to address the crisis.
The situation forced the Senate last Tuesday to ask the Federal Government to immediately address the issue of food insecurity in the country in order to avert an imminent crisis.
The red chamber stressed that ameliorating the food crisis was necessary to avoid the wrath of Nigerians who are currently undergoing excruciating hunger and acute starvation in the country.
The red chamber’s observation came as former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, raised the alarm that a food crisis could be imminent, alleging that the country’s food reserves were totally empty.
The Senate's resolution was sequel to a motion by the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Karimi, on the urgent need to address food insecurity and market exploitation of consumables in Nigeria.
Senators in their various contributions lamented the high cost of food in the country and urged the federal government to arrest the situation.
Between April and June 2024, food prices in Nigeria increased considerably compared to the preceding year.
Prices of staple foods increased the most by over 168 per cent compared to the previous year, while the price of a tuber of yam rose by about 154 per cent, according to the 2024 Statista data.
The data report revealed that food products percentage change in recent times put the prices of sweet potatoes at 182.04%, plantain (unripe) 168.29%, broken rice (Ofada) 158%, local rice sold at 155.93%, yam tuber 154.19%, rice medium grained 151.95%, plantain (ripe)144.68%, chicken feet 138.58%, agric rice sold at 135.62%, garri white, sold loose 134.98%, chicken wings 133.1%, as well as tomato at 131.58%.
Overall, 
none of the selected foods recorded a price decrease as the food products continued its price growth in the upward trajectory.
This percentage revealed the level of food inflation in the country. In a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation edged up by 15.62 per cent in June 2024.
It skyrocketed again and pegged at 40.87 per cent on a year-on-year basis - a 15.62 uptick compared to the rate recorded in June 2023 (25.25 per cent) for the consumer price index.
This translates to a 25.25 per cent increase from the 33.70 per cent for core inflation in February.
Inflation has thus increased for 15 straight months. This surge is reflected mainly in the prices of garri, millet, yam, sardine, fermented cassava meal (akpu), palm oil, vegetable oil, and beef, among others.
This is alarming primarily because these food items are staples in most homes across the land. The absence of these items would contribute seriously to hunger and malnutrition in the country.
Just recently, the President, African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, warned that the decision by the Federal Government to allow massive food importation might destroy the country’s agriculture sector.
Adesina, who spoke at a retreat in Abuja, advised the Nigerian government to produce more food and create jobs through agriculture.
Recall that on July 10, 2024, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, announced that the Federal Government would suspend duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through the country’s land and sea borders, for 150 days.
Kyari had said, “To ameliorate food inflation in the country caused by affordability and exacerbated by availability, the government has taken a raft of measures to be implemented over the next 180 days.
He had stated: “A 150-day duty-free import window for food commodities, suspension of duties, tariffs and taxes for the importation of certain food commodities (through land and sea borders). These commodities include maize, husked brown rice, wheat and cowpeas. Under this arrangement, imported food commodities will be subjected to a Recommended Retail Price.”
The minister had stated that in addition to the importation by the private sector, the “Federal Government will import 250,000MT of wheat and 250,000MT of maize. The imported food commodities in their semi-processed state will target supplies to the small-scale processors and millers across the country.”
But Adesina while reacting to the plans by the federal government, faulted the policy.
Adesina, a former agriculture minister, said, “Nigeria’s recently announced policy to open its borders for massive food imports, just to tackle short-term food price hikes, is depressing.”
He warned that the policy could undermine all the hard work and private investments that had gone into Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Adesina said: “Nigeria cannot rely on the importation of food to stabilise prices. Nigeria should be producing more food to stabilise food prices while creating jobs and reducing foreign exchange spending that will further help stabilise the Naira.
“Nigeria cannot import its way out of food insecurity. Nigeria must not be turned into a food import-dependent nation.”
“It is clear therefore that unless we transform agriculture, Africa cannot eliminate poverty. Essentially, food is money. The size of the food and agriculture market in Africa will reach $1tn by 2030,” Adesina added
Deina Maiyaki, Co-Founder and CEO, Agriarche Limited, an expert in food and agricultural farming called on Nigerians to embrace farming to ensure the availability of food in the country as well as in Africa.
Maiyaki said Nigeria has about 80million hectares of land for farming and only 40% is cultivated.
According to her, "Nigeria has over 80million hectares of land for farming and about 40% of the land is cultivated while others are left uncultivated. We have a vast land in Nigeria for farmers and as a nation we ought not to suffer hunger.
"Many people see farming as a dirty job but there's huge amount of revenue in it. If we have the mindset of farming and go into it, food insecurity will decrease and there are many opportunities in agriculture that will help the nation boost its means of livelihood.
"We don't need a certificate to be a farmer but practice. So everyone can go into farming to end the war against starvation."
Undoubtedly, the country remains food insecure. While UNICEF stated that 25 million Nigerians are at high risk of hunger, it is projected that 31.5 million citizens may face acute hunger between May and August 2024.
The global agency attributed the situation to insecurity, climate change, inflation, and rising food prices.
Without adequate security, Nigeria cannot have food sustainability. The country is grappling with banditry, wanton killings, kidnapping, criminality, terrorism and violent herdsmen attacks on farmers.
Consequently, farmers have abandoned their farmlands for fear of bandits and herdsmen, thereby contributing to food shortages across the country.
In March, the Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria said that despite the presence of security operatives, many farmers had abandoned their farmlands due to incessant killing, kidnapping, and destruction of farms.
The situation is rampant in Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, and Borno, where violence plagues the states often regarded as Nigeria’s food belt.
It is believed that addressing the food crisis in Nigeria requires a multifaceted approach. Immediate humanitarian assistance is essential to alleviate the suffering of those in acute need.
However, long-term solutions must focus on improving agricultural resilience, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering economic stability.
Promoting peace and security in conflict-affected areas is also critical to restoring agricultural activities and rebuilding livelihoods.
To ensure food security, experts advised that President Bola Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the police, and other security agencies must be in the driver’s seat of Nigeria’s security architecture.
They also recommended that intelligence gathering, coordination, and technology must be deployed to combat the ugly descent into anarchy in the country.
Experts also called for the urgent establishment of state police across the country, saying it would go a long way in ensuring proactive measures to combat crime while quickly responding to vicious attacks on farmers and citizens.
State governments and the federal and state parliaments are also urged to invoke the ‘doctrine of necessity’ to realise state police.
With its high population – estimated at 223 million – Nigeria needs a robust agriculture system to feed the populace. Therefore, it must develop infrastructure to hold excess rainwater for dry-season farming.
The government at the three tiers should support farmers with accountable and transparent incentives while encouraging farming by enabling farmers to secure mechanised farming tools in farm clusters. Low-interest loans should be made available to participants in these clusters.
Private and cooperative ranching will help to reduce the legitimate angst between farmer-and-herder communities. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, should drive a seamless agriculture architecture.
Nigeria should explore efficient and successful agriculture models within and outside the continent to reduce its high food inflation.
Moreover, there needs to be a concerted effort to tackle climate change through sustainable agricultural practices and better water management. Supporting smallholder farmers with access to modern farming techniques, inputs, and credit can significantly boost food production and security.
Transparent governance and accountability are equally important to ensure that resources are effectively utilized to benefit the most vulnerable populations.
Undoubtedly, the food crisis in Nigeria is a complex issue that requires immediate and sustained efforts from both national and international stakeholders. By addressing the root causes and implementing comprehensive strategies, there is hope for alleviating the crisis and ensuring food security for all Nigerians.
