August 28, 2024
By Okafor Joseph Afam

The 2024 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) report, a critical tool for assessing food and nutrition insecurity in West Africa, has unveiled a distressing trend in Nigeria: 31.8 million Nigerians are now grappling with severe hunger. This marks a significant and alarming increase from previous years, attributed primarily to the removal of fuel subsidies and escalating insecurity across the country.

The Impact of Subsidy Removal

The removal of fuel subsidies in early 2024, a decision made by the Nigerian government to address the country’s fiscal challenges, has had far-reaching consequences on the economy and livelihoods. Fuel, a critical input for transportation and agriculture, saw its price skyrocket, leading to a ripple effect across all sectors of the economy.

Transportation costs surged, making it more expensive to move goods, including food, across the country. This resulted in a sharp increase in food prices, pushing basic staples out of reach for many Nigerians. For households already living on the edge, this sudden spike in costs has been catastrophic, forcing many to cut down on food consumption or turn to cheaper, less nutritious alternatives.

Moreover, the subsidy removal has led to inflationary pressures, eroding the purchasing power of millions of Nigerians. The economic squeeze has left many unable to afford essential goods and services, plunging them deeper into poverty. The Cadre Harmonisé report highlights that these economic conditions have particularly impacted urban areas, where the cost of living has soared, and rural areas, where the agricultural sector has been severely disrupted.

Insecurity: A Growing Crisis

Compounding the economic challenges is the worsening security situation in Nigeria. The report highlights that ongoing conflicts, especially in the North East and North West regions, have severely disrupted agricultural production and food supply chains. Armed groups, bandits, and insurgents continue to destabilize these regions, displacing farmers and preventing them from cultivating their lands.

The CH report underscores that insecurity has not only led to reduced agricultural output but has also caused significant displacement of populations. Displaced communities, often forced to leave behind their livelihoods and homes, are now among the most food-insecure in the country. These communities rely heavily on humanitarian assistance, which itself is under strain due to the increasing number of people in need.

In the North East, for example, the ongoing conflict with Boko Haram and other insurgent groups has left vast swathes of arable land uncultivated. In the North West, banditry has made it perilous for farmers to access their fields, leading to a drastic reduction in food production. The Middle Belt, often referred to as Nigeria’s food basket, has also been affected, with communal clashes and cattle rustling further exacerbating food insecurity.

Regional Disparities

The Cadre Harmonisé report paints a grim picture of regional disparities in food insecurity. The North East remains the most affected, with millions of people classified as being in “crisis” or “emergency” levels of food insecurity. The North West follows closely, with similar levels of acute hunger driven by both conflict and economic pressures.

In the Middle Belt, food insecurity is worsening due to the combination of economic shocks and localized violence. The report notes that even the relatively