Food crisis: From problem to practical solutions

Over the past year, the average Nigerian has witnessed a relentless rise in the cost of living, an economic tension driven by spiralling inflation, a weakened naira, and the aftershocks of key policy reforms. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported Nigeria’s headline inflation at 33.95 percent in May 2025, with food inflation even higher at 42.12 percent, a sad figure that explains why many Nigerian families are struggling to afford even basic food.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration initiated economic reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market. Economists have described these moves as necessary for long-term economic stability. However, as they rightly predicted, the short-term effects have been harsh, especially for low-income households. Today, it is clear: food insecurity is the most pressing issue resulting from these economic headwinds.

“As the economic reforms continue, cushioning their impact through food availability must be a top priority for the government.”

As we all know, food is not just a necessity but a stabilising force in any economy. When access to food is threatened, the broader social and political fabric becomes fragile. In Nigeria, the food crisis is not only a product of macroeconomic shocks but also the result of systemic challenges in agriculture, farmer-herder conflict, and poor infrastructure.

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Despite being blessed with over 70.8 million hectares of arable land, Nigeria still depends heavily on food imports to bridge the gap and meet local demand. The irony is clear, especially in a country with such agricultural potential.

Perhaps the biggest barrier to food sufficiency is insecurity. The relentless activities of insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP in the North-East and bandits across the North-West and North-Central regions have devastated agricultural productivity. According to the United Nations, over 4.8 million people in Nigeria’s North-East are facing acute food insecurity in 2025.

Farmers are routinely attacked, kidnapped, or driven from their lands. Many have ended up in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, cut off from their livelihoods. Their abandoned farmlands lie fallow while food shortages worsen, driving prices higher.

Addressing insecurity is no longer an option but a necessity. The government must deploy a refined, intelligence-led military strategy focused on reclaiming and securing agricultural zones. Civil-military cooperation should also be strengthened, especially in states like Benue, Plateau, Borno, Katsina, and Zamfara, where agriculture is most vulnerable and threatened.

Another age-old but escalating issue is the conflict between farmers and pastoralists. This competition over land and water has turned violent in many states, from Benue and Plateau to Kaduna and Niger. It is vital to implement and enforce policies that clearly define grazing reserves and encourage ranching over open grazing. This is necessary to avoid the current massacre in Benue and its environs. The National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), proposed years ago, needs funding and urgent implementation. States must domesticate and enforce laws that foster peaceful coexistence and protect farmlands from incursions.

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In most parts of Nigeria, agriculture is still rain-dependent. This limits productivity to just one farming season a year, a huge setback for a country with year-round food demand. According to the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), less than 10 per cent of the country’s arable land is under irrigation. This is shocking, considering Nigeria’s 264 dams with a combined storage capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of water.

However, many of these dams are either underutilised or non-functional. Their outlets are blocked, and the nation’s irrigation infrastructure is outdated. Rather than investing in new dams, the government should prioritise the rehabilitation and desilting of existing ones. According to AFAN president Ibrahim Kabiru, effective utilisation of current dam infrastructure would support year-round farming and drastically improve food output. We have always overlooked this.

Furthermore, to turn the tide of the food crisis, Nigeria must commit to a multi-pronged, sustained response, such as President Tinubu’s proposed Forest Guard corps to secure farmlands. Deploy special agro-security task forces to volatile zones and secure IDP returns. Sincerely resolve the long-standing farmer-herder clashes by implementing the NLTP and enforcing anti-open grazing laws in affected states.

Also, revamp irrigation systems by rehabilitating blocked dam outlets and investing in affordable, modern irrigation technologies for smallholder farmers, and invest in agro-infrastructure – improving rural road networks and storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses. Government facilitating low-interest loans and grants to enable farmers to afford seeds, fertilisers, and machinery will do well. Most importantly, expand extension services by providing farmers with real-time guidance, training, and weather data to increase yields.

Sincerely, the path to food security is not paved with new ideas; we already know what works. What is missing is the political will to implement known solutions at the scale and urgency the crisis demands. As the economic reforms continue, cushioning their impact through food availability must be a top priority for the government.

It is often said that if food is removed from poverty, the weight of hardship becomes lighter. In 2025, this statement rings truer than ever. By putting food at the centre of our national recovery efforts, Nigeria can not only curb hunger but also reignite productivity and hope in millions of homes.