By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has revealed that approximately 161 million Nigerians are currently food insecure, as it intensifies efforts to prevent an escalating food and nutrition crisis.
Nuhu Kilishi, Director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, disclosed this on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to develop a Food and Nutrition Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP).
Kilishi noted a sharp rise in food insecurity, with moderate to severe cases increasing from 35% in 2014 to around 74% today.
He attributed the worsening situation to insecurity, banditry, kidnapping, economic hardship, and inflation, which have reduced farm sizes and increased food prices, limiting access to nutritious diets.
The FNSCPP, a derivative of the World Bank-supported Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, aims to expand access to quality nutrition services and build long-term resilience.
The government has planned targeted interventions such as distributing seeds and inputs for homestead gardening across all 774 local government areas, backed by World Bank funding for 21 states and federal resources for 15 others.
Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, a World Bank senior health specialist, said the project, now in its second phase, has shifted focus from curative to preventive strategies with additional crisis response financing to strengthen Nigeria’s food security systems.
Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, cited data from the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey, revealing that over 40% of households cannot afford nutritious meals, contributing to high maternal and child mortality rates.
The meeting followed Vice President Kashim Shettima’s directive to develop a national preparedness plan, with emphasis on multisectoral collaboration involving agriculture, health, education, water resources, and security agencies.
Ojuolape Solanke, National Project Manager for ANRiN 2.0, highlighted coordinated efforts across key ministries to deliver essential nutrition services to children and pregnant women at primary healthcare levels and promised a comprehensive plan within six months to guide future emergency responses.
These proactive steps reflect the government’s commitment to mitigating the country’s deepening food and nutrition insecurity crisis.