| dc.description.abstract | Despite the efforts by the Nigeria government to tackle food insecurity towards ensuring that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry, food insecurity remains a major challenge in Nigeria, affecting economic growth, and sustainable development. The 2023 Global Hunger Index ranked Nigeria 109th out of 125 countries. Over 26 million people out of an estimated population of 229.5 million faced acute hunger in the period June to August 2024. Around 84 million Nigerians – 37% of the total population – live below the poverty line. As reported by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning 2024, over 31.8 million Nigerians are suffering from acute food insecurity compounded with malnutrition among women and children in the Country. A 2025 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that approximately 30.6 million Nigerians are projected to likely face acute food and nutrition insecurity between June and August 2025. In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria ranks 110th out of the 127 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2024 GHI scores. Economic reforms, including the devaluation of the naira and removal of a longstanding petrol subsidy, have exacerbated living costs, leading to high inflation and increased food prices. Additionally, flooding and insecurity in northern states have impacted agriculture, destroying 1.6 million hectares of crops, post-harvest losses, and climate change effect are all attributed to drivers of food insecurity in Nigeria. To address the challenges of food insecurity and to boost Nigeria Agricultural productivity, to ensure food access, the following recommendations are proffered: i. The Senate Committees on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, and the House Committees on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, through its legislative oversight, may wish to engage with relevant stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and key Agencies and Parastatals under the Ministry, on the need to address the aforementioned factors responsible for food insecurity in Nigeria, looking at its socio-economic impact on Nigerians; ii. The Senate Committees on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, and the House Committees on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, through its legislative oversight, may wish to advise the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on the need for climate-smart agriculture and sustainable irrigation systems in Nigeria | en_US |
