Food crisis stares at Kaduna, Borno, five other Northern states – World Bank

By Tayo ABIOLA

No fewer than seven northern states in Nigeria are at risk of food insecurity in 2024.

Bretton Woods Institution in World Bank report’s latest food security report, declared that insecurity and armed conflicts would plunge three northeastern states and four northwestern states – Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states – into a food crisis.

The report further revealed that other countries in the West African region such as Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger will experience varying degrees of food insecurity.

It stated, “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.

“Nigeria (far north of Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara states) will be at crisis food security levels (IPC Phase 3), mostly because of persistent insecurity and armed conflict and deteriorating livelihoods.

It further noted that areas in Northeastern states such as Abadam, Bama, Guzamala, Marte and others, will experience Emergency food security levels (IPC Phase 4) as a result of limited household food stock and access to market and humanitarian aid.

The report also noted that over 63.2% of low-income countries experienced inflation levels surpassing 5%, marking a 1.3%-point increase compared to the previous food update on January 17, 2023.

Recall, Nigeria has been battling with a food crisis leading to the high cost of food items in the market, due to the inability of farmers to go to farms in the north as a result of banditry ravaging people.