News in brief:
– A new report reveals that floods have damaged 180,000 farmlands across 31 states, affecting over 1.2 million people.
– Rising insecurity and climate change are worsening Nigeria’s food crisis, with 100 million citizens food-insecure.
According to the report, published in June 2025, Nigeria has suffered severe climate-related agricultural losses since July 2024. Floods have inundated 31 out of 36 states, affecting approximately 1.2 million people and inflicting massive damage on farmland and infrastructure.
“The widespread deluge has destroyed an estimated 180,000 cultivated farmlands nationwide,” the report states, highlighting the scale of devastation facing farmers and food producers across the country.
Middle Belt Hit Hard, Food Prices Soared
The Middle Belt, a key food-producing region, was especially hard hit by the floods. The destruction of crops in this region is contributing significantly to rising food prices, which surged to 35.41% inflation in January 2024, worsening the already critical food security situation.
In addition to flooding, desertification in the North has led to the annual loss of about 350,000 hectares of arable land. These environmental pressures, coupled with insecurity from banditry and farmer-herder clashes, have driven many farmers away from their land.
The report also notes that more than 2.2 million Nigerians have been displaced by insecurity, especially in the Northcentral and Northwest regions. This has halted agricultural activities in several communities and deepened food shortages.
As of Q1 2024, 100 million Nigerians were food-insecure, with at least 18.6 million facing acute hunger, according to the findings.
The release of the report follows a catastrophic flood in Niger State in May 2025 that claimed over 200 lives and displaced more than 3,000 people. The disaster brought renewed attention to the country’s growing climate vulnerability and prompted urgent calls for action.
In response, President Bola Tinubu has pledged federal support for victims and activated the National Emergency Responder Centre to coordinate recovery and relief efforts across affected states. Several private individuals and organisations have also made donations toward flood recovery programs.
