More than 33.5 million Nigerians, including internally displaced persons, are projected to face acute food insecurity across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory between June and August 2027, according to the Cadre Harmonisé report.

The October 2026 Cadre Harmonisé Food and Nutrition Insecurity Analysis, released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and other partners, estimated that 26.8 million people, including 756,815 IDPs in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states, would experience crisis-level food insecurity or worse between October and December 2026.

According to the report, the number of people projected to face the crisis between June and August 2027 includes 891,228 IDPs in the three states.

Conflict and insecurity, displacement, higher fuel prices, climate shocks and elevated food inflation are cited as the primary drivers. Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto are among the states showing the most severe food-consumption shortfalls.

Regarding nutrition, the analysis warns that inadequate diets, weaker purchasing power, disease outbreaks, insecurity and limited access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation could deepen acute malnutrition, especially among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

It recommends expanded nutrition surveillance, prevention and treatment of acute malnutrition, dietary support, and integrated health, water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in the worst-affected areas.

Hussein Gadain,FAO representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS represented by Jimmy Owani, senior programme officer in the office of Emergency and Resilience said,

“The findings provided critical evidence for the government and development partners to anticipate food security challenges and prioritise investments.”

He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to technical assistance, capacity building and evidence-based interventions, while stressing the need to sustain national ownership of food-security coordination structures and strengthen early-warning systems.

Marcus Ogunbiyi ,permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, said the government is pursuing measures to raise domestic production, improve farmers’ access to inputs and finance, expand mechanisation and irrigation, and promote climate-smart agriculture.

He cited the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme, the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones as key initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity and strengthening the country’s food system.

According to him, 10 states remain outside the full Cadre Harmonisé analysis process.

He urged development and humanitarian partners to support capacity building, data collection and analysis so that national coverage can be completed, early warning strengthened and interventions better targeted.