Nigeria’s Food Crisis Deepens Amid Rising Inflation

By Diafa Doubra,

Nigeria is facing a worsening food crisis as soaring inflation and dwindling agricultural output continue to push basic staples out of reach for millions. Experts warn that the country’s food inflation, now at its highest in over a decade, is driving up the cost of essential items such as rice, maize, beans, and cooking oil, leaving many households struggling to afford daily meals. Rural communities, heavily reliant on subsistence farming, have been hit hardest by climate change impacts, insecurity in farming regions, and inadequate government intervention.

Nutritionists and aid agencies report a sharp rise in malnutrition cases, particularly among children under five. In several northern states, hunger levels have reached emergency thresholds, with humanitarian organisations calling for immediate action to prevent a full blown famine. Analysts say that without coordinated policies to boost local production, improve food storage, and curb price speculation, the crisis could trigger further social unrest in the coming months.