Over 31.8 million Nigerians face acute food shortages due to security issues and the removal of fuel subsidies, the government reported, citing a study by international development partners.
The food crisis has led to widespread malnutrition among women and children.
This alarming situation was detailed in meetings with government officials, according to a statement by the budget and economic planning ministry.
The U.N. World Food Programme previously identified 18.6 million Nigerians at risk of acute food insecurity from October to December 2023, highlighting a significant increase in the number of vulnerable people.
Rising food prices, driven by the removal of fuel subsidies and ongoing security challenges, have put millions in a dire situation, the ministry noted, as bandit attacks force farmers from their fields, worsening inflation.
President Tinubu, who assumed office in May 2023, ended fuel subsidies to reduce government spending, causing transport costs to surge.
The study, involving partners like the FAO and GIZ, used data from the Cadre Harmonise.
