Authorities Must Do More to Address the Food Crisis
Food is essential for survival and well-being, making the current food crisis in Nigeria an issue of utmost urgency. Without immediate intervention, the country risks a severe human catastrophe. The situation is particularly dire in the northern region, where millions of children and mothers face malnutrition, depriving them of a healthy and productive life. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare identifies low food consumption and poor health behaviors as major contributors to acute malnutrition. “Other factors include banditry, population displacement, and insecurity, which limit access to vulnerable populations,” said Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director and Head of the ministry’s Nutrition Department.
Earlier this year, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and its partners forecasted severe food insecurity and hunger for many Nigerians. This grim prediction aligns with reports from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which disclosed a 100% increase in life-threatening malnutrition cases among children in the North over the past year. While the efforts of Muhammad Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, in tackling the challenge are commendable, we urge him to further mobilize stakeholders across public and private sectors to address this crisis comprehensively.
The urgency cannot be overstated. MSF’s Country Representative, Simbia Tirima, emphasized the critical need for action, revealing that the organization’s facilities are overwhelmed, with patients being treated on mattresses. “We’ve been warning about the worsening malnutrition crisis for the last two years. While 2022 and 2023 were critical, an even grimmer picture is unfolding in 2024. We can’t keep repeating these catastrophic scenarios year after year. What will it take to make everyone take notice and act?” Tirima asked.
These warnings are consistent with data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which highlights Nigeria’s position as the country with the second-highest burden of stunted children globally. With 32% of children under five affected, an estimated two million Nigerian children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), yet only two out of every 10 receive treatment. Additionally, more than six million children are moderately malnourished, and many pregnant and lactating women face micronutrient deficiencies. Forty percent of SAM cases are concentrated in just six states, underscoring the need for targeted interventions.
The persistent insecurity in the north has significantly disrupted agricultural production, driving up the cost of living. Prices of staple foods such as beans, tomatoes, onions, and cassava flour have skyrocketed, placing an unbearable burden on households. The United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) has repeatedly warned that millions of Nigerians face hunger due to these escalating food costs. Trond Jensen, Head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Nigeria, observed, “People have been forced to adopt negative coping mechanisms such as survival sex and child labor to stay alive.”
Federal and state governments, donors, and other stakeholders must urgently allocate resources and implement measures to avert a potential food and nutrition disaster. Timely action is critical, as emphasized by David Stevenson, UNWFP Country Representative. “The hunger crisis in Nigeria, fueled by the ongoing conflict in the northeast, needs urgent addressing. Restoring peace in the northeast is critical for us to build pathways to production and achieve the northeast’s potential as the food basket of the country,” Stevenson stated.
Insecurity remains a significant obstacle to agricultural productivity and food distribution. Banditry, displacement, and ongoing conflict in the northeast disrupt the agricultural supply chain and limit farmers’ access to their fields. These challenges exacerbate the already dire situation and contribute to the cycle of poverty and malnutrition.
To address the crisis effectively, CSR REPORTERS notes that authorities must adopt a multi-faceted approach. This includes improving security to restore agricultural activities, implementing social protection programs to assist vulnerable populations, and increasing investment in nutrition-specific interventions. Public-private partnerships can also play a vital role in boosting food production, ensuring distribution, and enhancing affordability.
Additionally, the international community has a role to play. Donors and humanitarian organizations must intensify their support to bridge the funding gaps for emergency food and nutrition programs. Local and global stakeholders must prioritize collaborative efforts to ensure that resources are directed to the most affected regions.
Nigeria’s hunger crisis is a complex issue requiring urgent, sustained, and coordinated efforts. Without decisive action, the consequences will be devastating for millions of children and families, perpetuating a cycle of malnutrition and poverty that undermines the nation’s future. The authorities must rise to the challenge and act swiftly to save lives and secure the well-being of the population.
