🇳🇬Households Depending on Food Support -2023/2024

A troubling trend has surfaced in Nigeria, with a recent survey indicating that many households are facing challenges in accessing food, leading numerous families to rely on borrowed food or assistance from friends and relatives to manage their needs.

Conducted in 2023/2024, the survey shows that the proportion of households seeking food support varies by region, with the North East having the highest reliance on such aid.

The findings reveal that an alarming 28.6% of households in the North East depended on borrowed food or help from friends and family, followed by 24.2% in the South East and 23% in the North Central region. In the South South, 19.1% of households relied on food assistance, while the North West recorded 17.9%. The South West had the lowest reliance at 16.4%.

These findings have raised serious concerns regarding food insecurity in Nigeria, with experts cautioning that this issue could have dire repercussions for the nation’s economy, health, and social stability.

“This is a crucial moment for the government and stakeholders to urgently address food insecurity in Nigeria,” stated Dr. Fatima Mohammed, a food security specialist. “The reality that millions of households depend on borrowed food or assistance indicates that our food system is failing to meet the citizens’ needs.”

The survey has also prompted calls for enhanced investment in agriculture and initiatives aimed at supporting small-scale farmers and improving access to credit and resources.

“The government must adopt a comprehensive strategy to tackle food insecurity, which includes investing in agriculture, upgrading infrastructure, and offering support to small farmers,” said Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. “We also need to address poverty and inequality, as they are significant contributors to food insecurity.”

As this situation develops, Nigerians are preparing for the possible outcomes of food insecurity, such as heightened poverty, malnutrition, and social unrest.

While the government and stakeholders attempt to confront food insecurity, Nigerians await the actions that will be implemented to assist those in need of food access.

The survey results serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for action to tackle the worsening issue of food insecurity in Nigeria.