The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has unveiled a troubling reality for many Nigerian families, revealing that widespread food scarcity, insecurity, and soaring prices have compelled households to significantly reduce their food consumption.
In its latest General Household Survey Panel (Wave 5) report, conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, the NBS reported that a staggering 65 percent of families are unable to afford nutritious meals due to financial constraints.
The findings highlight that 71 percent of households have been adversely affected by rising prices of essential food items, while over one-third of families experienced food shortages in the past year. These shortages were notably acute during the months of June, July, and August, exacerbating the ongoing food insecurity crisis.
The report indicates that nearly half of all households (48.8 percent) have resorted to reducing their food intake as a coping strategy. It states, “In the past 12 months, more than one-third of households faced food shortages, which were most prevalent during the months of June, July, and August.”
Furthermore, the report reveals a significant increase in food-related anxiety among households, with the percentage of families concerned about insufficient food rising from 36.9 percent in Wave 4 (2019) to 62.4 percent in Wave 5.
The NBS data underscores the severity of the situation: approximately two out of three households (65.8 percent) reported being unable to access healthy, nutritious, or preferred foods due to financial limitations in the past month. Additionally, 63.8 percent of households consumed only a limited variety of foods, 62.4 percent expressed worry about having enough food, and 60.5 percent admitted to eating less than they believed was necessary.
The report also highlights that 12.3 percent of households experienced a day without food for at least one member, and 20.8 percent had to borrow food or seek assistance from friends or relatives.
Geographically, the report indicates that households in southern Nigeria report higher instances of food insecurity compared to their northern counterparts. In the southern zones, the proportion of households that had to skip meals ranged from 50.1 percent in the South West to 62.4 percent in the South East. In contrast, the northern zones reported figures between 34.0 percent in North Central and 48.3 percent in North East.
The NBS noted that residents in the South-South region exhibited the highest rates of food insecurity across five out of eight indicators, while North-Central had the lowest rates in six of the eight indicators assessed.
