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Climate change

Climate Change Devastates Nigeria's Agriculture, Leading to Record Food Prices and Hunger

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Climate change has brought unprecedented devastation to Nigeria's agricultural sector, leading to record food prices and widespread hunger. In the north, where farmers account for almost 70 percent of the country's food production, deteriorating conditions have forced many to migrate to the south in search of better opportunities. The situation is dire, with climate change driven by fossil fuel emissions altering the landscape of Northern Nigeria, causing massive land degradation and desertification.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Agency for the Great Green Wall estimates that 105,000 sq.km to 136,500 sq.km of landmass are lost to drought and desertification in Nigeria's 11 frontline states, including Borno, Yobe, and Katsina.
  • Climate change has been responsible for a 2.17 percent growth in the agricultural sector in 2020, which declined to 2.13 percent in 2021, 1.88 percent in 2022, and 1.13 percent in 2023 before surging marginally to 1.19 percent in 2024.
  • Food prices in Nigeria have surged by over 100 percent, with inflation reaching 34.8 percent in December 2024, the highest in three decades.
  • An estimated 31 million people are projected to face acute hunger in the June-August 2025 lean season, according to a World Food Programme report.
  • About two out of three Nigerian households are going hungry, with families skipping meals as they cannot afford enough food, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2024.
  • The government must empower communities to combat land degradation and build resilience to climate change using sustainable interventions, as recommended by experts.

Statistics:

  • Nigeria covers an area of 923,769 kmA2 with 909,890 kmA2 of landmass and 13,879 kmA2 of water area.
  • The 11 frontline states affected by drought and desertification are Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi.
  • The sector recorded 2.17 percent growth in 2020, which declined to 2.13 percent in 2021, 1.88 percent in 2022, and 1.13 percent in 2023 before increasing marginally to 1.19 percent in 2024.
  • An estimated 31 million people will face acute hunger in the June-August 2025 lean season.
  • Two out of three Nigerian households are going hungry, with families skipping meals as they cannot afford enough food.

Sources:

  • National Agency for the Great Green Wall
  • Bureau of Statistics (NBS)
  • World Food Programme
  • National Emergency Management Agency
  • DeBranch Farmers
  • Aquashoots Limited
  • AfricanFarmer Mogaji, former group head of agribusiness, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
  • Jude Obi, president of the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria
  • Sandra Victor-Gwafan, co-founder and chief executive officer, DeBranch Farmers
  • Mustapha Mohammed, a farmer in Dangwaji village
  • Muhammed Saleh, a farmer in Yusufari Local Government Area

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