Nigeria’s food crisis continues to escalate as recent data from the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) reveals that flooding has devastated over 115,000 hectares of farmland across the country. Bauchi State was the hardest hit, with 50,343 hectares affected, followed by Taraba, Jigawa, Niger, and Sokoto states. This year’s floods have also impacted 29 states, affecting over 611,000 people, displacing more than 225,000, and resulting in 201 deaths.
The floods come at a time when Nigerians are already grappling with severe food shortages and inflation, with households expected to spend nearly 55% of their income on food in the next six months, according to a Central Bank of Nigeria survey.
In response, the Federal Government has introduced several measures, including the suspension of duties on key food imports and the deployment of troops to protect farmers in northern states. The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, has assured Nigerians of a “bumper harvest” later this year, despite the ongoing challenges.
