The October/November 2023 Cadre Harmonise (CH) report has revealed that twenty six point five million Nigerians in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including five hundred and twenty-eight thousand Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) are expected to be in food and nutrition crisis between June and August of 2024.
The report also shows that eighteen point six million people in twenty six states including four hundred and sixteen thousand, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) are expected to be in food and nutrition crises between October and December of 2023.
The key drivers contained in the report are the Naira redesign, removal of fuel subsidy, flood incidences, and crises and insecurity.
The Cadre Harmonise (CH) analysis is conducted in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ascertain the food security situation and make projections for the future for informed decision making.
The CH report projections serve as a guide for policy makers in focusing on areas that are in dare need of interventions.
The Assistant Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations representative (Programmes) Dr. Abubakar Suleiman said “conflicts and insecurity, removal of fuel subsidy, floods, and Naira Re-design” are the factors causing food and nutrition insecurity in the affected states.
“The current cycle is happening after an unusual lean season, during which we witnessed several shocks, ranging from persistent insecurity situations (like insurgency, banditry, natural resource based conflicts), high cost of food and agricultural inputs due to high inflation and other economic factors and severe dry spells in some states immediately after the onset of rains”
He said the combination of these shocks generally affected livelihoods and food security of many households at the peak of the lean season.
On accurate data analysis, Dr. Suleiman said the CH report has been a source of data for proper planning.
“As you all agree, CH analysis continues to produce the most reliable and widely acceptable data/results for humanitarian programming, food security and livelihood response targeting, and for prioritisation of development programmes.”
Self-reliant.
While appreciating the increasing interest of the Nigerian government in empowering communities and strengthening their resilience so that they can be self-reliant.
He pledged FAO’s continuous support for the government and vulnerable communities to achieve the set goals.
The representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Director Special Duties of the Ministry Mrs Fausat Lawal said the CH report is coming at a time the present government is leaving no stone unturned in reinvigorating the nation’s economy by first addressing the challenges of food and nutrition Insecurity.
She said, “factors like the lingering negative impact of Covid-19 on the global economy and the Russia-Ukraine war which is currently disrupting the food systems and spiking up input prices (fertilizers and agrochemicals) and food prices”
“The removal of petroleum subsidy has further heightened this pressure, resulting in food inflation and increases in consumer price index,” She added
According to her, the FMAFS remains resolute in leading and supporting the CH process in Nigeria adding that hopefully, before the end of year 2024, they would work to mainstream all the thirty-six (36) states of the country in the CH analysis.
Shakirat Sadiq
