33.5m Nigerians Face Acute Food Insecurity in 2027, Report Warns

An estimated 33.5 million Nigerians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), could face acute food insecurity between June and August 2027.

The projection covers 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), according to the October 2026 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis report.

The report also estimated that 26.8 million people would face crisis-level food insecurity or worse between October and December 2026.

The figure includes 756,815 IDPs in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

However, the number of IDPs projected to face acute food insecurity between June and August 2027 is expected to rise to 891,228 across the three states.

The analysis identified conflict and insecurity, displacement, rising fuel prices, climate shocks and high food inflation as key drivers of the worsening food situation.

It also listed Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto among states facing the most severe food consumption challenges.

The Cadre Harmonisé report was produced by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners.

In its nutrition assessment, the report warned that the crisis could worsen acute malnutrition, especially among children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women.

It linked the risk to inadequate food intake, falling purchasing power, disease outbreaks, insecurity and poor access to healthcare.

Limited access to clean water and sanitation services could further deepen the nutrition crisis in affected communities.

The report therefore called for stronger nutrition surveillance and wider prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition.

It also recommended dietary support and integrated health, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in vulnerable communities.

Presenting the findings in Abuja, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, described the analysis as critical evidence for planning.

Represented by an FAO official, Gadain said the findings would help government and development partners anticipate food security threats and prioritise investments.

He also reaffirmed FAO’s support for Nigeria through technical assistance, capacity building and evidence-based interventions to strengthen food security and resilience.

Gadain stressed the need to sustain national ownership of food security coordination structures and strengthen early warning systems.

He said stronger early warning mechanisms would help prevent emerging food crises from escalating.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the Federal Government was taking steps to increase domestic food production.

He listed improved access to agricultural inputs and finance, mechanisation, irrigation and climate-smart agriculture among the government’s priorities.

Ogunbiyi cited the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme, Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones as key initiatives.

He said the programmes were designed to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s food system.

However, Ogunbiyi disclosed that 10 states were yet to become fully integrated into the Cadre Harmonisé analysis process.

He urged development and humanitarian partners to support capacity building, data collection and analysis to achieve comprehensive national coverage.

According to him, extending the exercise to the remaining states would strengthen early warning and improve preparedness.

It would also enable the government to target food security interventions more effectively across vulnerable communities.