FAO
FAO says 26.5m Nigerians face starvation in 2024
At least 26.5 million Nigerians are facing starvation un 2024 as a result of the food crisis in the country.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which disclosed this at the weekend, stated that this presents a damning picture of the deepening level of food insecurity in Nigeria.
The FAO country representative in Nigeria, Dominique Kouacou, spoke at the presentation of this month’s round of the Cadre Harmonise food security and early warning analysis in Abuja.
Kouacou’s analysis was conducted in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ascertain the food security situation and make projections for the future.
Kouacou, who was represented at the event by Assistant FAO representative, Programme, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, said the current cycle was happening after an unusual lean season that witnessed several shocks, ranging from persistent insecurity situations like insurgency and banditry.
He listed other challenges as natural resource-based conflicts, high cost of food and agricultural inputs due to high inflation, and severe dry spells in some states immediately after the onset of rains.
The FAO official warned that residents of Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, and FCT would face a food crisis between June and August next year.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, said the analysis was conducted and validated by highly skilled professionals of the CH analysis task force over the past two weeks.
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