Nigeria’s food crisis is poised to worsen as recent floods have devastated 115,265 hectares of farmland across the country, severely impacting agricultural productivity. According to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the flooding has affected 29 states and 154 local government areas, displacing over 225,000 individuals, damaging more than 83,000 households, and causing 201 fatalities.
The most severely affected states include Bauchi, which has seen 50,343 hectares of farmland submerged, Taraba with 22,182 hectares, and Jigawa with 9,919 hectares. Other states experiencing significant damage include Niger, Sokoto, and Adamawa.
This disaster exacerbates Nigeria’s existing food shortages, with food inflation already surpassing 40%, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). A recent survey by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reveals that households are expected to allocate around 54.9% of their income to food in the coming months, forcing many to cut back on non-essential spending.
Former CBN Deputy Governor Obadiah Malafia has identified violent conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, along with high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates, as key factors driving the food crisis. These conflicts have led to decreased agricultural productivity, as farmers avoid distant, more fertile farmlands due to security concerns.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, remains hopeful for a bumper harvest around October-November 2024. He assured that the government is taking steps to mitigate the effects of flooding and improve agricultural productivity through mechanization and the distribution of fertilizers and modern farming equipment.
However, the full recovery from the current crisis hinges on avoiding further natural disasters and effectively addressing the ongoing challenges facing the agricultural sector.
