SBM: About 26.5mn Nigerians to experience acute food insecurity

The report by SBM Intelligence has highlighted the severe challenges faced by Nigerian farmers, painting a bleak picture of the country's food security situation. Chukwuemeka Okoro, a Security Analyst at SBM Intelligence, shed light on the critical pressure points identified in the report during his recent interview on CNBC Africa. The report reveals that farmers are now forced to pay levies to bandits in order to access their own farms, leading to a staggering increase in food prices and scarcity. The situation is so dire that farmers are unable to harvest their produce without facing extortion from these criminal elements. Okoro emphasized the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to address the growing insecurity and protect Nigeria's food supply. The key theme emerging from the discussion is the looming threat of acute food insecurity for an estimated 26.5 million Nigerians during the lean season from June to August 2024. In order to combat this crisis, Okoro stressed the importance of cooperation between host communities, security forces, and local authorities. He also highlighted the positive impact of initiatives such as the introduction of vigilantes by some state governments. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with the government to take intentional and decisive action to tackle the root causes of insecurity and protect the livelihoods of farmers. The recent conversation with the country director for Nigeria of the World Food Programme underscored the interconnectedness of global food security challenges, with even countries like Ukraine facing their own crises while still providing support to Nigeria. The urgent call to action is clear - the current situation where farmers are forced to pay exorbitant levies to criminal groups is unsustainable and demands immediate intervention to safeguard the food supply and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.