Economic hardship, high inflation and violence in food-producing regions in northern Nigeria may push 33.1 million Nigerians into food insecurity in 2025.
Also, inflation, interest rates and naira depreciation could drive 13 million more Nigerians below the national poverty line in the year.
PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited projected this in a report released on Thursday titled 2025 Nigerian Budget and Economic Outlook.
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READ ALSO: REPORT: Hefty Levies Imposed on Farmers by Terrorists Contribute to Nigeria’s Food Insecurity
Food insecurity occurs when people do not have adequate physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious foods that meet their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
In 2024, FIJ reported that bandits terrorised farmers in the conflict-torn areas of northern states like Kaduna and Zamfara by imposing heavy levies on them before they could access farmlands and harvest crops.
Those who resist these demands face severe consequences such as abduction, murder or confiscation of their produce. The levies imposed on farmers also worsen food insecurity by raising food prices, making it harder for more Nigerians to afford what they need to eat.
According to PwC, the federal government’s conditional cash transfer programme coupled with the implemented minimum wage will only provide limited support for poor Nigerians.
“Existing social safety net programmes such as the conditional transfer in Nigeria are often inadequate and may not reach the most vulnerable populations, leaving many without necessary support,” it stated.
READ ALSO: World Bank: 15 Million More Nigerians to Land in Poverty, Inflation Rate Highest in the World
While the most vulnerable households are verified via their National Identification Number (NIN) or Bank Verification Number (BVN) for cash transfer programmes, the low coverage of NIN or BVN among the poor and economically insecure population has slowed the pace of the roll-out of the direct benefit transfers.
With respect to the minimum wage, the report states that “Only a small share of the population (4.1% of working Nigerians) are impacted by the minimum wage increase which limits the broad impact on households”.
The report stressed the need for effective poverty alleviation measures and tackling insecurity challenges in the central and northern regions to reduce the projected poverty and food insecurity rates in 2025.
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