Food security in Nigeria: challenges and threats

Abstract

Nigeria is currently grappling with a variety of security threats that are undermining its sovereignty. These threats encompass communal and religious conflicts, urban violence, arms smuggling, kidnapping, human trafficking, cybercrime, armed robbery, terrorism, and banditry. Recently, food insecurity and escalating food costs have emerged as new forms of insecurity in Nigeria. This paper employs qualitative methods using secondary sources such as newspapers, internet resources, and existing scholarly works. The findings reveal that rural banditry, clashes between farmers and herdsmen, climate change, and the Russia–Ukraine war are both remote and immediate factors contributing to food insecurity in Nigeria. The paper underscores the implications of food insecurity for achieving Goal 2 of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It recommends collaborative efforts across all levels of government to address issues like rural banditry, clashes between farmers and herdsmen, political unrest, and disputes. It also calls for proactive measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and to establish an early warning system to inform farmers. The paper suggests that the Nigerian government should strive to lessen the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on wheat and fertilizer ingredient imports. It also advocates for an urgent reorientation of herdsmen to adopt modern cattle-rearing methods that are more profitable and healthier.