The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that over 3.7 million people in conflict-hit North-East Nigeria are facing severe food insecurity. The region is entering the lean season, and families’ food stocks are collapsing due to insecurity and displacement, which has constrained access to farmland. Many smallholder farmers, who once fed their communities, are now struggling to reach or cultivate their fields.
In Borno State, community leader Modu Umar expressed the severity of the situation, stating, “Right now, we face severe food shortages… Farming is the only solution to hunger.” A 70-year-old farmer, Churi Ibrahim, from Gajibo in Borno State, echoed similar sentiments, “Some people trek three hours to reach their farms… sometimes, we don’t even get one meal a day.” The ICRC’s Head of office in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, noted that households must start purchasing food during this period, but many conflict-affected families cannot afford it, forcing them to drastically limit their food intake.
The food crisis is also leading to rising levels of malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women. In response, the ICRC has been supporting malnutrition stabilization centers and conducting community education to help families care for vulnerable children. Additionally, the organization has provided over 21,000 farming households with season-appropriate seeds and planting tools for both rainy and dry season cultivation to boost local production and improve diets.
Farmers in the region have identified insecurity, particularly farmer-herder clashes, as a major challenge. In Bauchi State, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria has commended the government’s efforts to address the issue by banning farming in roadside and rocky areas to provide grazing fields for herders. However, farmers still require support, including access to affordable fertilizers and extension services, to thrive.
In Taraba State, there has been a notable improvement in security, allowing farmers to return to their farmlands. Governor Agbu Kefas’ efforts to restore peace have been instrumental in this development. Nevertheless, more needs to be done to ensure food security in the region. The ICRC’s warning highlights the urgent need for sustained support to farmers and conflict-affected communities to address the hunger crisis.
