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The United Nations World Food Program with the Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that Nigeria could face a “major (food) emergency … or series of emergencies“In the next three to six months, alongside Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Yemen.
This was revealed on Friday evening by a United Nations report. The UN said Nigeria’s most vulnerable region is the Northeast, adding that the drivers of these humanitarian crises include long-lasting conflicts and a lack of humanitarian access to communities in need.
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What you should know
Nairametrics reported in March, that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicted that 7 million Nigerians would experience food shortages between June and August 2020, as 16 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were identified to address the food and nutrition crisis.
FAO reported that states such as Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger would be affected.
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It exhorted thus: “Introduce policies and programs that are crucial to improving poor livelihoods to improve self-sufficiency and reduce total dependence on food assistance, as well as prevent further deterioration of the food and nutrition security situation during the clean season.”
In Friday’s statement, the WFP spokesperson, Tomson Phiri, highlighted how the disastrous situations of the people were linked to an insurrection in northern Burkina Faso and north-eastern Nigeria. He said:
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“People have lost goods, people have lost the ability to cope with any shocks. We’ve had … unprecedented floods this year; floodwaters were submerging entire cities, people struggling, the harvest was about to arrive. “
The WFP revealed that the Covid-19 blockades have worsened food insecurity in 27 countries, with up to 104.6 million people in need.
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“In those 27 countries, the number of people who are already facing acute food insecurity are already (sic) more than 100 million. The analysis is obviously ongoing, so we exclude this number to increase much more“Said WFP Ah Poe.
“And earlier this year, we estimated in the countries where we operate – around 80 countries – an additional 121 million people would be at risk of falling into food insecurity., “the WFP She said.
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Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Sahel Consulting, told Nairametrics in April that it would be impossible for Nigeria to achieve food security or GDP growth if more than 74 percent of its smallholder farmers were financially excluded.
“According to a report by @worldbankdata, there is a strong correlation between financial inclusion and GDP growth. Improving access to finance for smallholder farmers will improve their production, the availability and affordability of food and, in turn, the GDP of our economy “
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“Our regional and national borders are closed and trade is limited. These realities, if prolonged and not addressed urgently, will lead to short-term consequences of food shortages, price increases and medium- and long-term consequences of undernourishment, mass starvation,“she added.
