Reports from humanitarian groups indicate that thousands of households in states such as Borno, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto are facing severe shortages due to poor harvests, rising food prices and persistent insecurity that has disrupted farming.
Local farmers say banditry and displacement have prevented them from accessing farmlands, while inflation has pushed staple foods beyond the reach of many families. In some rural communities, residents survive on one meal a day, with malnutrition cases among children on the rise.
The Food and Agriculture Organization recently warned that Nigeria risks deeper food insecurity if urgent interventions are not provided. Aid workers are calling for increased food distribution, livelihood support and stronger security measures to enable farmers to return to their fields.
Community leaders have appealed to the federal government to prioritize northern food crises in policy and relief planning, stressing that hunger is fueling poverty and instability in the region.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs has assured that it is working with partners to scale up relief efforts, though many families say assistance has yet to reach their communities.
