At the result presentation in Abuja, CH stakeholders expressed concerns that Nigeria has continued to host the highest number of food insecure people globally, despite the improvement in the figures. ©FAO/David Tsokar

10/03/2025
Abuja – The Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Food Security Sector partners, has released the latest Cadre Harmonisé report, revealing a critical food and nutrition crisis across the country. The findings show that 30.6 million people in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are projected to face acute food and nutrition insecurity at Crisis (CH Phase 3) or worse during the June–August 2025 lean season.
While this figure marks a slight improvement from last year’s 33.1 million, stakeholders note that limited access to data has impacted the analysis. Nigeria continues to face the highest number of food-insecure people globally, with very high levels of acute malnutrition, underscoring the urgency of sustained and coordinated action.
Current findings indicates that there is no populations classified in Catastrophe (Phase 5) population classified as Emergency (CH Phase 4) is expected to rise from 680,000 (March–May 2025) to 1.2 million (June–August), a 43% increase with the northwestern states of Zamfara (400 000), Sokoto (183 000) and Katsina (130 000) taking the lead as the most affected region, with the northeastern states of Borno (146 000) and Yobe (133 000) following closely. Kaduna in the northcentral records 100 000. Together, the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States account for 15% (3.7 million people) of Nigeria’s food-insecure population, while the northwest represents 17% (4.2 million people). Without sustained intervention, these figures are expected to rise to 4.6 million (BAY) and 5 million (northwest) during the lean season. Drivers to this escalating food insecurity in Nigeria include sustained insecurity due to the insurgency and communal clashes, economic hardship and shocks and climate hazards.
Other notable hunger hotspots requiring urgent attention include large parts of Benue, Kwara, Kaduna, and parts of Taraba and Cross River states where affected populations are increasingly experiencing high food consumption gaps due to economic shocks, conflict and deteriorating livelihoods options.
Following the release of these finding, Dr. Onyema Okwudili Director of Food and Strategic Reserve, who represented the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, said, “these results are apt as it presents the outcome of the state of our country’s food and nutrition security situation, particularly in this phase of our nation’s economic stress when majority of the population are still experiencing the shock of the negative impact of fuel subsidy removal and insecurity in the food production, processing, storage and distribution system.”
FAO Representative ad interim in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, expressed FAO’s continued commitment to supporting Nigeria to enhance food security and nutrition. “FAO is dedicated to addressing immediate food needs while tackling underlying drivers of food insecurity through durable solutions in food production, livestock restoration, water management, and more. Together, we aim to strengthen agri-food systems and secure sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable communities.” Mr. Kouacou said.
The UN in Nigeria earlier alleyed fears for potentially high risk of a worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly considering the recent aid funding cuts. He urged the Nigerian Government, donors, and stakeholders to step up and commit resources and implement measures to avert further deterioration, emphasizing the need for immediate multi-sectoral support across the country, with particular attention to the northeast and northwest food and nutrition insecurity hotspots.
“The alarming figures released today highlight the urgent need for collective action to address the escalating food and nutrition insecurity affecting millions of vulnerable children and families across Nigeria. UNICEF remains committed to working alongside the government and our partners to ensure that every child has access to nutritious food and essential services. We must prioritize immediate interventions to prevent further deterioration of the situation, particularly in the most affected regions. Together, we can build a resilient future for Nigeria’s children.” Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative said.
Call to action
The cost of inaction is too high, without sustained and increased funding, food insecurity and malnutrition will worsen, potentially reversing progress made in recent years even as vulnerable populations will face greater hardship, with devastating long-term impacts. Increased investment is also needed to enhance food security data collection and analysis, enabling evidence-based decision-making and coordinated responses.
More about the Cadre Harmonisé
The Cadre Harmonisé is an initiative focused on consensual food and nutrition analysis, conducted biannually (in March and October), and currently covers 26 states and the FCT. It represents a collaborative effort led by the Nigerian government, in association with regional technical agencies, UN bodies, and I/NGOs. The Cadre Harmonisé serves as a comprehensive tool to evaluate present and future food and nutrition scenarios and proffers appropriate response interventions to avert a food crisis.
Related links
https://www.ipcinfo.org/ch.
Contacts for more details:
 FAO Nigeria – David Tsokar; [email protected]; Tel:+234 806 616 2876
UNICEF – Sussan Akila, [email protected] Tel. +234 8036577670
                                       

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