The federal government has said about 161 million Nigerians are food insecure, even as it intensifies efforts to avert an impending food and nutrition crisis.

Director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Nuhu Kilishi, said this on Friday in Abuja.

He spoke during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the development of a Food and Nutrition Security Crisis Preparedness Plan (FNSCPP).

The plan is a spin-off of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, a state-led, World Bank-funded initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition by expanding access to quality, cost-effective nutrition services for vulnerable populations.

Mr Kilishi said food insecurity in the country had risen sharply, with moderate and severe levels increasing from 35 per cent in 2014 to approximately 74 per cent in recent years.

“Only 20 per cent of Nigerians are currently food secure, meaning they are certain of their next meal,” he said, attributing the worsening trend to insecurity and economic hardship.

He added that banditry, kidnapping, and insecurity had significantly reduced farm sizes and driven many away from agricultural production.

He stated, “Inflation and rising prices of food inputs and commodities have also made it difficult for households to afford healthy diets.”

Describing the food and nutrition situation as dire, especially in crisis-affected areas, Mr Kilishi noted that the government developed targeted strategies to address the challenge.

He stated, “Among them is 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.’’

Also speaking, a senior health specialist at the World Bank, Ritgak Tilley-Gyado, said the ANRiN project, which began in 2018, had entered its second phase.

She noted that the bank initially committed $232 million to the programme at Nigeria’s request, marking a shift from curative to preventive approaches in addressing malnutrition.

She said, “With additional crisis response window financing made available, the aim now is to strengthen Nigeria’s systems to prevent future food and nutrition crises.’’
Ms Tilley-Gyado added that the new plan was forward-looking and focused on building long-term resilience rather than responding reactively to emergencies.

In her remarks, Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, cited findings from the 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey.

According to her, the survey showed that more than 40 per cent of households cannot afford nutritious meals.

She said the lack of access contributed to Nigeria’s high maternal and child mortality rates, as well as widespread clinical malnutrition.

Ms Bako-Aiyegbusi noted that the meeting was a follow-up to a directive from Vice President Kashim Shettima for the development of a national food and nutrition preparedness plan.

“We do not want to wait for a crisis before responding. Food and nutrition security is not the responsibility of the health sector alone; it is multisectoral. Agriculture, education, water resources, information, security, and development partners all have critical roles to play,” she noted.

National Project Manager for ANRiN 2.0, Ojuolape Solanke, said the project would ensure the delivery of essential nutrition services to children and pregnant women at the primary healthcare level.

She added that the plan included coordinated efforts across key ministries, agriculture, Budget and Economic Planning, and Health, for results-based implementation.

Ms Solanke said, “We are working to ensure that within the next six months, a comprehensive plan is in place to guide Nigeria’s response to any future food and nutrition emergencies.’’

The proposed plan forms part of proactive efforts to shield the country from a deepening food security crisis. 

(NAN)