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The National Bureau of Statistics has unveiled a concerning figure, showing that 20.8 percent of Nigerian households have had no choice but to borrow food or seek help from relatives and friends in the past month.
This data paints a picture of the challenges facing households in Nigeria, with an increasing number of people forced to rely on informal support systems to weather the economic storms brought on by rising costs and inflation.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics has shown that nearly a quarter of Nigerian households—specifically 20.8 percent—have found themselves borrowing food or turning to friends and family for support to get by in the past month.
This alarming trend sheds light on the widespread food insecurity in the country, with many households struggling to maintain basic living standards amid economic uncertainty and rising living costs.In the General Household Survey-Panel Wave 5 (2023/2024), a comprehensive report supported by the World Bank, this troubling discovery highlights the alarming scale of food insecurity in Nigeria.
The survey’s findings expose a harsh reality for many Nigerians, who are increasingly faced with dire circumstances regarding their ability to secure enough food for their families.
Additionally, 62.4 percent of households reported feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety about the possibility of running out of food, while 60.5 percent acknowledged that they were forced to reduce their food intake, often consuming less than they needed to maintain their health and well-being. This reflection of widespread concern further emphasizes the dire state of food insecurity across the nation.Disturbingly, 12.3 percent of households disclosed that at least one member of their family was forced to go an entire day without food. This troubling finding underscores the depth of the food crisis, as many households struggle to provide for all members, leading to days of hunger for vulnerable individuals.
The report read: “Approximately two out of three households (65.8 per cent) reported being unable to eat healthy, nutritious, or preferred foods because of lack of money in the last 30 days. 63.8 per cent of households ate only a few kinds of food due to lack of money, 62.4 per cent were worried about not having enough food to eat, and 60.5 per cent ate less than they thought they should.
“Furthermore, 12.3 per cent reported that at least one person in the household went without eating for a whole day, and 20.8 per cent of households had to borrow food or rely on help from friends or relatives.”
The report highlights regional disparities, with households in Nigeria’s southern regions being the most affected.
In the South-South zone, more than 60 per cent of households skipped meals due to financial challenges, a figure notably higher than in the North-Central region.
Female-headed households also faced harsher realities, with 72.2 per cent unable to afford healthy meals compared to 64 per cent of male-headed households.
Also, 55.2 per cent of female-led households reported running out of food entirely, compared to 41.3 per cent of their male counterparts.
Read also: Insecurity Fueling Food Price Surge, Traders Claim
The NBS report indicates a steep increase in food insecurity levels since 2018.
The percentage of households expressing worry about food due to financial constraints has nearly doubled, rising from 36.9 per cent in Wave 4 to 62.4 per cent in Wave 5.
North-Central region recorded the largest jump, with concerns about food insecurity tripling from 16.2 per cent to 44.9 per cent.
The South-West zone saw a striking increase, with the percentage of affected households rising from 46.7 percent to 61.7 percent, signaling a concerning trend in food insecurity. Last year, 37 percent of households grappled with food shortages, and 61.6 percent faced significant difficulties during the challenging period of June, July, and August, a time when food scarcity is typically most pronounced.
Food shortages were most prevalent in the North-East, where an alarming 53 percent of households faced significant difficulties in securing enough food. On the other hand, the North-Central zone had the smallest proportion of affected households, with just 25.7 percent reporting food insecurity, reflecting a noticeable regional variation in food availability.
The report provides a sobering account of Nigeria’s escalating food insecurity crisis, drawing attention to the immediate and pressing need for robust interventions that can effectively tackle the economic and nutritional difficulties confronting millions of households across the nation.
