The Federal Government has revealed that approximately 161 million Nigerians are currently food insecure, highlighting the urgent need to avert a looming food and nutrition crisis.
The Director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Nuhu Kilishi made this known on Friday in Abuja during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the development of a Food and Nutrition Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP).
The plan stems from the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, a World Bank-funded, state-led initiative aimed at improving nutrition by expanding access to cost-effective, quality services for vulnerable populations.
Kilishi said the level of food insecurity in Nigeria had grown significantly, with moderate to severe cases rising from 35 percent in 2014 to roughly 74 percent in recent years.
“Only 20 percent of Nigerians are currently food secure, meaning they are sure of their next meal,” he said.
He attributed the worsening situation to widespread insecurity and deepening economic challenges.
“Banditry, kidnapping, and other security threats have reduced farm sizes and forced many away from agricultural production,” he noted, adding that inflation and soaring food prices have made it increasingly difficult for households to afford nutritious diets.
Kilishi described the food and nutrition situation in crisis-affected regions as particularly dire. He said the government had developed targeted strategies, including the distribution of seeds and inputs to support homestead gardening across all 774 local government areas.
“We have secured World Bank funding to implement this plan in 21 states, while the remaining 15 states will be supported through federal resources,” he added.
Dr Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, Senior Health Specialist at the World Bank, explained that the ANRiN project, launched in 2018, had entered its second phase. She said the Bank initially committed $232 million at Nigeria’s request, shifting focus from curative to preventive strategies.
“With additional crisis response window financing now available, the aim is to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to prevent future food and nutrition crises,” she said.
Tilley-Gyado emphasised that the new plan was forward-looking, focusing on resilience rather than reactive emergency responses.
Also speaking, Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, referenced the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey. She said the data showed that over 40 percent of Nigerian households cannot afford a nutritious diet.
She linked this to the country’s high maternal and child mortality rates, as well as widespread clinical malnutrition.
Bako-Aiyegbusi noted that the meeting was in response to a directive from Vice President Kashim Shettima to develop a national food and nutrition preparedness plan.
“We don’t want to wait for a crisis before we act. Food and nutrition security must be seen as a shared responsibility. Agriculture, health, education, water, security, and development partners all have roles to play,” she said.
Mrs Ojuolape Solanke, National Project Manager for ANRiN 2.0, said the project would deliver essential nutrition services to children and pregnant women through primary healthcare centres.
She said the plan would involve collaboration among key ministries—Agriculture, Budget and Economic Planning, and Health—for coordinated, results-driven implementation.
“Our goal is to have a comprehensive plan in place within the next six months to guide Nigeria’s response to potential food and nutrition emergencies,” Solanke added.
The proposed plan is part of broader efforts to safeguard the country against an escalating food security crisis.
