31.8m Nigerians Suffering From Acute Food Insecurity -

Over 31.8m Nigerians are suffering from acute food insecurity compounded with malnutrition among women and children in the country.

According to statistics provided by the 2024 Cadre Harmonise report, the surge in food commodity prices which is a result of the removal of fuel subsidy in addition to security challenges, has placed millions of Nigerians in a precarious situation.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Julie Osagie-Jacobs today, said development partners which include the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Green Action in Enterprises (GAIN), GIZ, he, made the disclosure at the Joint review meeting on implementation of the Food systems in Nigeria, held from the 26th -27th August, 2024.

Findings indicates a sharp rise from the 18.6 million people assessed as vulnerable to acute food insecurity from October to December 2023 by the U.N. World Food Programme.

The surge in food commodity prices, which is a result of the removal of fuel subsidy in addition to security challenges, has placed millions of Nigerians in a precarious situation,” the ministry said the stakeholders advocated for a multi-sectoral approach of collaboration in tackling food security, noting that it was a must, in addressing all the challenges simultaneously.

They noted that civil society organisations including the private sector must be involved to extend the reach of nutrition efforts the partners however pledged their unalloyed support to transform the food system in Nigeria.