World Bank Says Kaduna, Borno, Some Other Northern States Risk Food Crisis

By Akinwale Kasali

The pathetic state of food insecurity in Nigeria has led to the projection by the World Bank that Kaduna, Borno and five other Northern States in the country are at the risk of food crisis in 2024.

According to the World Bank in its latest food security report, insecurity and armed conflicts would plunge three north-eastern states and four north-western states into a food crisis.

The states highlighted by Bretton Woods Institution are Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.

Apart from Nigeria, the report 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 North-eastern states such 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.

Meanwhile, 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.