82 million Nigerians may go hungry by 2030 – UN
The United Nations has again predicted that 82 million Nigerians, about 64 percent of the country’s population, may go hungry by 2030.
The organisation calls on the government to tackle climate change, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity.
This prediction comes amid a persistent hike in food prices in Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s food inflation rate hit a record high of 40.66 percent in May 2024, surpassing the previous month’s 40.53 percent increase.
This surge represents the largest year-on-year increase in food prices since records began in 1996.
Historically, food inflation in Nigeria has averaged 13.42 percent, with the lowest point of -17.50 percent in January 2000.
In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organisation predicted that no fewer than 2.6 million Nigerians in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara states, and the FCT may face a food crisis between June and August 2024.
A government-led Cadre Harmonisé analysis released in March 2024 indicated that approximately 4.8 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are experiencing severe food insecurity, the highest level in seven years.
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As Nigerian workers commemorated May Day 2024, Organised Labour expressed concern about the rising food prices and fuel scarcity, stating that the current situation threatened the survival of workers. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Olisa Agbakoba recently warned of a potential hunger riot, urging the Federal Government to act swiftly.
At the launch of CropWatch in Abuja, the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, represented by UN official Taofiq Braimoh, emphasized the need for technological intervention to strengthen the agriculture sector and ensure food security.
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He highlighted that satellite-based crop monitoring provides real-time data on crop conditions, enabling farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions and optimize agricultural practices.
Proofreading, editing by Sakinat Musa Abubakar and Maryam Sulaiman, Journalist and Editor at Neptune Prime.
