Tackling Escalating Food Insecurity in Nigeria: The Urgent Need for Legislative Intervention

Abstract

Nigeria, often regarded as the giant of Africa, faces persistent food insecurity deepened by climate variability, ongoing insecurity, and heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture. The country is ranked 110th out of 127 countries in the 2024 Global Hunger Index, projected to have over 35 million people experiencing acute food insecurity in 2026 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Out-of season farming offers a vital opportunity to mitigate this crisis by enabling year-round food production. However, its widespread adoption is hindered by limited access to irrigation facilities, agricultural inputs, and technical expertise. Additionally, climate-related shocks such as floods, persistent conflicts, inadequate infrastructure, and poor availability of essential resources further aggravate the acute food production and restrict the potential of out-of-season farming. In view of this, the following recommendations are proposed:  The National Assembly (NASS) may wish to increase allocations for agricultural development, nutrition initiatives, and social protection schemes in the national budget. This bolsters critical frameworks such as the National Multi-Sectoral Plan for Food and Nutrition (NMPFAN), which requires over ₦262 billion to achieve its objectives.  Legislators may wish to enact legislation that provide legal protections for farmers confronting insurgencies, ethnic disputes, and soaring input expenses, especially in precarious areas such as Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. Strategies may encompass farmland defense, funding and scrutiny of agricultural initiative shortfalls.  Lawmakers may wish to amend agricultural laws to heighten output, aid smallholder farmers, and advance climate-resilient methods despite insecurity and environmental shifts. This entails promoting tech integration through frameworks like the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022–2027.  NASS should mandate the creation of systematic data collection and monitoring frameworks to track progress regarding farming activities, outputs, and challenges, supporting evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions.