Nigerian government and United Nations say about seventeen million people are in dire need of food assistance In Nigeria while another 25.3 million people in 26 States and the federal capital territory are expected to be in Food and nutrition crisis or worse between June and August 2023.
The forecast which is coming from the Federal government and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Cadre Harmonise report for 2022/2023 food and nutrition security analysis also listed Adamawa, Borno and Yobe as the most vulnerable states due to shocks from the insurgents.
Food security and nutrition experts from the federal and state governments have been meeting in Taraba, Borno, Jigawa, Cross River and Abuja for the past two weeks to analyse and consolidate the Cadre Harmonise (CH) food security analysis findings from 26 states including the FCT.
Unlike the March 2022 CH, the current analysis is conducted at a time when Nigeria is grappling with the effects of the devastating heavy rains and floods that have negatively impacted on over twenty states destroying farmlands, crops and other means of livelihood for millions of people across the country.
The result of the analysis indicates that currently, 17 million Nigerians are in urgent need of food and nutrition assistance while 25.3 million people will be in crisis or worse situation for the projected period of June to August 2023.
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During the projected period, the number of vulnerable populations may rise unless conscious efforts are made to provide strategic resilience-focused interventions and humanitarian assistance in areas where necessary.
The report also showed that prone areas are aggravated due to shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the devastating floods situation in Nigeria. States that are most affected include; Borno with 1.4 million people, Yobe with 1.3 million people, and Adamawa with one million people.
The Cadre Harmonisé (CH) is the unified tool for consensual analysis of acute food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West African Region.
Editor: Hadiza.A.A
