The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that rising food prices and shortages have significantly impacted Nigerian households.
According to the report, 71 percent of households have been affected by price hikes in essential food items, while over one-third experienced food shortages in the past year.
The report highlighted that 65 percent of families cannot afford nutritious meals due to financial constraints. Food insecurity was particularly severe during June, July, and August, exacerbating the crisis across the country. The findings, based on the General Household Survey Panel (Wave 5) conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, underscore the growing challenges faced by households.
Nearly half (48.8 percent) of households reported reducing their food consumption as a coping strategy. Furthermore, 12.3 percent stated that at least one member of their household went without eating for an entire day, while 20.8 percent had to borrow food or rely on assistance from friends or relatives.
The report also noted that food insecurity was most pronounced in the South-South region, which ranked highest in five out of eight indicators of food insecurity.
“More than one-third of households experienced food shortages in the past 12 months, particularly during the months of June, July, and August. Additionally, price hikes in key food items were the most common shock, affecting 71 percent of surveyed households,” the report stated.
The data also revealed a significant rise in the number of households concerned about food availability. This figure grew from 36.9 percent in 2019 (Wave 4) to 62.4 percent in the most recent survey. The report attributed this increase to worsening food insecurity, with over half of Nigerian families struggling to meet their dietary needs.
Around 65.8 percent of households reported being unable to eat healthy or preferred meals due to financial limitations in the past 30 days. Similarly, 63.8 percent ate only a limited variety of foods, 62.4 percent were worried about running out of food, and 60.5 percent consumed less than they believed they should.
Households in southern regions reported more incidents of food insecurity compared to those in the northern zones. For instance, the proportion of households skipping meals ranged from 50.1 percent in the South West to 62.4 percent in the South East, while in northern regions, this figure varied from 34 percent in the North Central to 48.3 percent in the North East.
In contrast, the report noted that the North Central region had the lowest rates in six of the eight food insecurity indicators. The findings highlight the urgent need for interventions to address the growing food crisis across Nigeria.
