Credit: Ima Enoch
Food insecurity is a major issue in Nigeria, affecting millions of people and putting their health and well-being at risk. The 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Nigeria has found that 73.4% of households in the country have experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in the previous year. The data shows that this problem is not limited to rural areas, with urban households also reporting high levels of food insecurity at 71.3%. Meanwhile, the situation is even more dire in rural areas, where 74.9% of households have faced food insecurity.
Food insecurity can be defined as the lack of physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. This means that people are unable to meet their dietary needs and food preferences, leading to malnutrition and other health problems. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) is used to measure food insecurity at the household or individual level by asking people about their own experiences or those of their households.
The MICS survey in Nigeria used the standard FIES module, which consisted of eight questions about food insecurity experiences over the past 12 months and the past month. The survey also collected data on whether the food insecurity was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time that Nigeria has produced data on moderate or severe food insecurity at this level of detail, and the results are alarming.
The high levels of food insecurity in Nigeria highlight the need for immediate action to address this issue. This includes investing in agriculture and food production, improving access to food and nutrition, and addressing poverty and economic insecurity. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and the international community must work together to ensure that all people in Nigeria have access to adequate food and nutrition.
The data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Nigeria also highlights significant differences in food insecurity across the country's geopolitical zones. The North Central zone has the highest rate of food insecurity at 76.1%, followed by the South East and South South zones, where 77.2% and 77.4% of households have experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, respectively. Meanwhile, the North East and North West zones report slightly lower rates of food insecurity at 72.3% and 73.8%, respectively.
The South West zone, however, stands out as the region with the lowest rate of food insecurity, with 66.3% of households reporting moderate or severe food insecurity. This disparity between the different regions suggests that there may be regional-specific factors contributing to food insecurity and that efforts to address the problem must take these differences into account.
For example, the high rates of food insecurity in the North Central, South East, and South South zones may be linked to a lack of food production in these regions or poor access to food markets. On the other hand, the lower rates of food insecurity in the South West zone may be due to a more robust agricultural sector or better access to food markets. Understanding these regional differences is crucial in developing effective and targeted solutions to address food insecurity in Nigeria.
The data on food insecurity in Nigeria also reveals differences between the states. The state with one of the highest rate of food insecurity is Akwa Ibom, where 89.1% of households have experienced moderate or severe food insecurity. This is followed closely by Imo (86.0%) and Cross River (83.4%). On the other hand, the states with the lowest rates of food insecurity are Adamawa (59.7%) and Gombe (55.9%).
The state of Plateau also stands out with a high rate of food insecurity at 92.0%. This suggests that the state may be facing specific challenges that contribute to food insecurity, such as a lack of food production due to communal clashes between herders and farmers or poor access to food markets.
It is also worth noting that some states, such as Benue (62.2%), Borno (65.4%), and Ondo (62.2%), have relatively low rates of food insecurity compared to other states. This may be due to the presence of a more robust agricultural sector or better access to food markets in these states.
In conclusion, the data on food insecurity in Nigeria highlights the need for targeted interventions at the state level to address this issue. These interventions must take into account the specific factors contributing to food insecurity in each state and the unique challenges faced by each state. By working together, governments, non-governmental organizations, and the international community can ensure that all people in Nigeria have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.