Food Insecurity Alert: World Bank Warns Seven Northern States Including Kaduna And Borno

Food Insecurity Alert: World Bank Warns Seven Northern States Including Kaduna And Borno

In a stark warning, the World Bank has identified seven northern states in Nigeria as potential hotspots for food insecurity in 2024, raising alarm bells about the looming crisis…..READ ALSO Agricultural Oversight: Minister Blames Buhari Administration For Neglecting Wet Season Cultivation, Warns Of Impending Food Crisis

According to the latest food security report from the Bretton Woods Institution, a combination of insecurity and armed conflicts threatens to plunge three northeastern states and four northwestern states into a state of food crisis.

The states flagged by the World Bank include Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara, painting a troubling picture of the challenges faced by communities in these regions.

The report extends its concerns beyond Nigeria, highlighting neighboring countries in the West African region such as Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger, which are also expected to grapple with varying degrees of food insecurity.

“It is projected that most areas in West and Central Africa will remain minimally food insecure (IPC Phase 1) until May 2024, with some being categorized as Stressed IPC 2,” the report stated.

In Nigeria, particularly in the far north of states like Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, the situation is dire, with persistent insecurity and armed conflict exacerbating livelihood challenges, pushing these regions into crisis food security levels (IPC Phase 3).

The report highlights specific areas within northeastern states like Abadam, Bama, Guzamala, Marte, among others, where Emergency food security levels (IPC Phase 4) are anticipated due to limited household food stocks and restricted access to markets and humanitarian aid.

Furthermore, the report underscores a concerning trend of inflation affecting low-income countries, with over 63.2% experiencing inflation levels surpassing 5%, indicating a worrisome 1.3%-point increase compared to previous updates.

Nigeria’s battle with food crisis, aggravated by banditry in the north disrupting farming activities, has led to soaring costs of food items in the market, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable populations.