According to a report titled Cadre Harmonise, it has been projected that 4.8 million Nigerians may suffer food insecurity issues in 2018.
The report, released by stakeholders in food security, also explains that between October and December 2017, 3.1 million people will face food crisis in the country.
Put together by three organisations, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the National Programme for Food Security (NPFS), the report explains the predicted perils in terms of food availability.
Staplefood and cash crops production during the 2017/2018 growing season is above five-year average levels across most of the states. Exceptions are conflict-prone areas of the northeast, including Born, Yobe and Adamawa states.
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“Food availability in most states is expected to decline normally towards the lean season (June-August 2018), although the impact may tamper with dry season farming activities.
However, the insurgency continues to have a negative impact on food production in the most affected areas of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
Elevated food prices traversed across the 16 states and FCT with increase ranging from 30 to 170 per cent. Cereal prices increased by 60 to 200 per cent in September 2017 relative to the five-year average, and by 10 to 50 per cent when compared to the same time last year.
Similarly, legume and tuber price were also above the 2016 and five- year average by 36 and 87 per cent, respectively. Household stocks in most of these states will last at least three months.
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However, high food price will constrain food access for most households in the three worst conflict-affected states (Borno, Yobe and Adamawa).
Food availability and access to food will be stable considering favourable growing season and potential for dry season activities across the states, except in the northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
