Over 9. 8 million people from 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are reported to be suffering from food insecurity in Nigeria, while 13.9 million individuals are projected to go hungry in 2021.

According to the results of a food analysis from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Abuja, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Jigawa states are struggling with food insecurity and malnutrition. Others are Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger states.

Speaking at the presentation of the analysis, the FAO Representative in Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Fred Kafeero, said the results of the analysis had exposed the need for urgent intervention by the government. He said: “The presentation of the results of the October/November 2020 Cadre Harmonise (CH) analysis for the 16 States and the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria is such an important stage in determining our next actions and effective response in ensuring food security and nutrition in the country.

“The Cadre Harmonise (or CH, as it is popularly called) is a regional framework for the consensual analysis of acute food and nutrition insecurity situations across West African countries. Through this framework, areas of undernourished and food insecure populations are identified”.

He added: “the exercise, which has now been adopted by the Nigeria food security stakeholders since 2015, aims to apply the outcome of the analysis in preventing food crisis by identifying the areas and populations affected, as well as proffering appropriate measures towards improved food and nutrition security and livelihoods.” Nigerian Tribune