Melvin Onwubuke
A new recent report by Cadre Harmonise reveals that no fewer than 31.5 million Nigerians are on the verge of food insecurity between June and August 2024.
This is worsened by the removal of the fuel subsidy, affecting the macroeconomics through inflation in agricultural inputs and transport.
The report noted that between March and May 2024, there is a risk of hunger for about 14000 internally displaced persons and about 24.7 million people in 26 states of the country and the FCT.
It stated, “Also,1.5 million people in Yobe are expected to be in crisis or worse between June and August this year.
“During the current period, food consumption was under stress in most of the states and Crisis in some LGAs in Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, and Yobe, Zamfara States.
“Deteriorated food consumption situation was also observed among populations in the inaccessible areas and the IDPs in Adamawa, Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
“During the projected period (June to August 2024) more households are expected to face crisis level of food consumption in the states.”
According to the report, conflict and insecurity, fuel scarcity, currency depreciation of the naira, and rising inflation and consumer price index rate were the main factors contributing to the crisis.
It stated, “Poor macroeconomic conditions are restricting access to agricultural inputs in the country; the high cost of transport, inflation rate, and the volatile dollar-naira exchange rate have negatively affected households’ income.
“In the projected period (June to August 2024), poor microeconomic conditions and conflicts are expected to drive limited access to livelihood opportunities.”
Recall, in its earlier report last year, the Cadre Harmonise stated that around 26.5 million people in Nigeria stand the risk of food crisis and hunger in 2024 over expected food inflation and insecurity.
Meanwhile, the federal government is considering setting up state police, to enhance security architecture, particularly in the northeast region of the country.
