No fewer than 33.1 million people across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 26 states are projected to confront a severe food and nutrition crisis between June and August 2025, according to a recent report by the Cadre Harmonisé (CH).
This alarming finding was underscored in a collaborative report released on Friday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The report identifies several states at risk, including Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger, and Benue.
Other are Cross River, Enugu, Edo, Abia, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Ogun, Lagos, Rivers, and the FCT.
It specifically highlights the plight of 514,474 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara, amplifying Nigeria’s humanitarian crisis.
Presently, around 25 million individuals across these regions are already facing food emergencies.
The FAO Country Representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS, Kouacou Koffy noted the urgency of the situation, stating, “With the concerted efforts of the government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can move closer to alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.”
He described the array of challenges, including economic instability, climate catastrophes, and escalating insecurity, which are collectively jeopardising food security.
Koffy asserted that the CH analysis is a crucial early warning tool for identifying and responding to humanitarian needs. “CH analysis is the most reliable and widely accepted early warning tool for humanitarian programming, food security, and livelihood response targeting, as well as for prioritising development programmes.”
