30 million Nigerians risk acute hunger, malnutrition in 2025 lean season – Stakeholders

By Abdullahi Lukman
Over 30.6 million Nigerians across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory are projected to face acute food and nutrition insecurity during the 2025 lean season.
This projection was made at a three-day National Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the 2026 Agriculture Budget held in Lagos.
Consequently, participants issued a strong call for urgent policy reforms, inclusive investments, and increased budgetary allocation to agriculture in the 2026 national budget.
Contributing factors to the enduring food insecurity, according to the participants, include worsening insecurity, farmer displacement, climate disasters like flooding and drought, and escalating food prices.
Despite these challenges, stakeholders lamented a sharp decline in federal allocation to agriculture—from 4.2 percent in 2024 to just 1.2 percent in 2025, far below Nigeria’s 10 percent continental commitment under the Maputo and Malabo Declarations. No state in the country, including the FCT, has met this target.
Participants, including representatives from the National Assembly, civil society, research bodies, and development agencies, criticized delayed and erratic budget releases.
They noted that while personnel costs are regularly funded, critical capital and overhead allocations—essential for improving food systems—remain unfunded. As of Q2 2025, capital releases stood at zero.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting also highlighted systemic inequalities. Women—who dominate Nigeria’s smallholder farming—are grossly underfunded, with actual allocations falling short of the 35 percent target in the National Agricultural Gender Policy.
Youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) also face significant barriers to land, credit, and inputs due to outdated tenure systems and exclusionary practices.
The stakeholders urged the federal government to treat agriculture and food security as a national emergency, recommending a minimum of 10 percent budget allocation with early and front-loaded disbursements that align with planting cycles.
They also called for transparent monitoring systems to track agricultural spending and ensure accountability.
Proposals included increased investment in climate-smart agriculture, rural infrastructure such as feeder roads and storage, agricultural insurance, and targeted programs for women, youth, and PWDs.
They recommended that 10–15 percent of the agriculture budget be dedicated to youth agripreneurs, with at least 50 percent of youth-focused programs reserved for young women.
While Nigeria’s agriculture sector continues to contribute up to 29 percent of GDP, participants stressed that without decisive funding and inclusive policies, the country’s food security crisis will only worsen—putting millions more at risk of hunger and malnutrition.