Food Security: Will Nigeria’s Food Prices Keep Rising?

Food Security in Nigeria is threatened by insecurity, climate change, and economic challenges, making it difficult for farmers to produce enough affordable food. This situation affects access to nutritious food for many Nigerians.

 In Katsina State, an attack occurred when gunmen on motorcycles attacked Hassan Ya’u and other farmers while they were working. The attackers demanded a lot of money and killed at least 50 people. some villagers were kidnapped.

This attack has forced many farmers to leave their farms, as these attacks have affected food production and caused food prices to rise in the country.

Ya’u lost all his crops and food worth about 4 million naira and had to move nearly 200 kilometers away to Daura with his 13 children. Similarly, Nasidi’s large farm was attacked by bandits in Northern Nigeria.

Most of these farmers grow crops like rice, yam, and maize, but they face constant threats from armed groups and Islamist militants, making farming one of the riskiest jobs there. According to SBM Intelligence, 1,356 farmers have been killed since 2020.

The World Food Programme has listed Nigeria as one of the world’s “hunger hotspots” because of these dangers and high costs for farming supplies.

 Despite these efforts, young farmers like 22-year-old Abdulaziz Gora from Zamfara state next door feel it’s too dangerous to return to farming. After a violent attack in May, he moved to the state capital, Gusau, and left his crops behind, noting the high risks of being kidnapped or killed.

This situation is making the food crisis in Nigeria worse. Since many farmers can’t go to their farms, there’s less maize, rice, and yam being grown. 

This drop in food production will likely make food prices go up a lot. With less local food available, the cost of basic food items will increase, making it harder for many people in Nigeria to afford food. This will lead to more people going hungry and increase food insecurity throughout the country.