BY FESTUS OKOROMADU
The Food and Agriculture Organisation says no fewer than 26.5 million Nigerians may face a food crisis between June and August 2024.
According to the international body, states such as Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara including the Federal Capital Territory are of bigger risk.
FAO Country Representative, Dominique Kouacou, disclosed this at the presentation of the October to November round of the Cadre Harmonise (CH) food security and early warning analysis in Abuja on Friday.
He stated that the Cadre Harmonise analysis was conducted in 26 states and the FCT to ascertain the food security situation and make projections for the future.
Speaking at the event, Kouacou, who was represented by Abubakar Suleiman, assistant representative, FAO, said, “About 26.5 million Nigerians may encounter a food crisis in 2024.”
Kouacou stated that the current cycle is happening after an unusual lean season that witnessed several shocks, ranging from persistent insecurity situations like insurgency, and banditry.
He listed other challenges as natural resource-based conflicts, high cost of food and agricultural inputs due to high inflation, and severe dry spells in some states immediately after the onset of rains.
On his part, Ernest Umakhihe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the analysis was conducted and validated by highly skilled professionals of the CH analysis task force over the past two weeks.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by Fausat Lawal, director of special duties, said the results of the cycle of Cadre Harmonise analysis came at a time when the governments at all levels were doing all possible to revitalise the nation’s economy.
He said the challenges were enormous but surmountable, and that many reasons appeared to be undermining the ministry’s efforts.
“Notable among them are the lingering negative impact of COVID-19 on the global economy and the Russia-Ukraine war which is currently disrupting the food systems and spiking up input prices and food prices,” Umakhihe said.
