“Hunger Crisis Worsens in Nigeria as Inflation, Insecurity, and Failed Policies Cripple Food Supply”
By Springnewsng Media Limited | June 18, 2025
Nigeria is facing a deepening hunger crisis as inflation skyrockets, food prices spiral out of control, and widespread insecurity devastates agricultural activities across the nation—particularly in the country’s food basket states.
The cost of living has become unbearable for millions of Nigerians, as the annual inflation rate surged to record highs in 2025. Basic staples such as rice, garri, beans, and tomatoes have seen price hikes of over 200% in some areas. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported that food inflation alone hit 46.2%, putting nutritious meals out of reach for average households.
States like Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa—often referred to as Nigeria’s food basket—are no longer able to produce as they once did. Persistent attacks by armed herdsmen, who invade and destroy farmlands, have left many farmers displaced, their crops destroyed, and their means of livelihood shattered.
“We can’t go to our farms anymore,” said Terkimbi Uba, a farmer in Benue. “Even when we plant, herdsmen allow their cattle to graze on our crops. We’ve cried to the government, but nothing has changed.”
In Northern Nigeria, the situation is even more dire. Daily reports of banditry, kidnappings, and killings have forced thousands of farmers to flee their villages. The unending violence has disrupted food production and supply chains, causing scarcity in major markets and pushing prices further up.
Experts say poor government planning and policy failures are aggravating the situation. Despite repeated promises by federal authorities to tackle insecurity and stabilize the economy, there is little evidence of tangible action. Subsidies have been removed, the naira continues to weaken, and fuel prices have surged—further increasing the cost of transporting food across the country.
The United Nations recently warned that over 30 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity by the end of 2025 if immediate interventions are not made.
Unless urgent and coordinated steps are taken to address inflation, stop the killings, and support farmers, Nigeria risks a full-blown humanitarian disaster driven by hunger, poverty, and fea
