16 Northern states, FCT may face food crisis in 2018 – Report

A report jointly prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the National Programme for Food Security has projected that about 4.8 million Nigerians may face critical food insecurity situations in 16 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in 2018. The report titled: “Cadre Harmonise for identification of risk areas and vulnerable populations” explained that between October-December 2017, about 3.1 million people could face food crisis. According to the FAO Country Representative, Sufyyan Koroma, who analysed the report at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja during the weekend, the report provides reliable data on food security status in 16 states and FCT. Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Bukar Hassan, stated that “the report will assist government to take the necessary steps to address food crisis and emergency situation in the country.” “The government is working hard to ensure that agricultural activities return fully to the north-east states affected by the insurgency,” he added. The states affected by food and nutrition insecurity are: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, FCT.