Nigeria is facing a hunger crisis of alarming proportions. Despite being Africa’s largest economy and a country blessed with vast agricultural potential, millions of Nigerians are battling severe food insecurity. Malnutrition is rising, families are skipping meals, and the much-lauded Right to Food Act of 2023 seems like a distant promise rather than a present reality. In the streets of Kano, the villages of Borno, and even in the heart of Lagos, hunger is no longer just a statistic—it’s a daily battle.
The Right to Food Act was meant to be a game-changer. Passed with the intention of legally obligating the government to ensure food availability, affordability, and accessibility, the law was seen as a step toward ending chronic hunger. But as of 2025, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Inflation, insecurity, and climate change have combined to push food prices beyond the reach of many Nigerians. Staple foods like rice, maize, and garri have become luxuries for low-income families, and in some northern states, acute malnutrition among children has reached crisis levels.
The problem isn’t just a lack of food—it’s a failure of policy implementation. Experts argue that while the Right to Food Act is well-intentioned, it lacks a clear roadmap for execution. The agricultural sector remains underfunded, and small-scale farmers, who produce the bulk of the country’s food, are struggling with high costs of inputs, poor infrastructure, and security threats. Armed bandits and insurgents have driven many farmers off their lands, further reducing food production and availability.
Government officials insist that efforts are being made to tackle the crisis. The federal and state governments have launched various food security initiatives, including subsidies for fertilizers and improved seeds, as well as emergency food distribution programs. But critics argue that these measures are mere stopgaps, unable to address the root causes of food insecurity. “We need long-term solutions, not just emergency handouts,” says agricultural economist Dr. Samuel Adebayo. “The government must invest in irrigation, mechanization, and security to ensure that farmers can actually produce food sustainably.”
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are stepping in to fill the gaps. The World Food Programme (WFP) and other aid groups have intensified their efforts, particularly in the northeastern part of the country, where conflict has displaced millions. But these interventions, while vital, are not sustainable solutions. Nigeria, a country with vast arable land and a history of agricultural self-sufficiency, should not be relying on food aid.
There’s also the question of economic policy. The government’s recent moves to remove fuel subsidies and introduce tax reforms have led to further inflation, making food even more expensive. While these policies are aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s economy in the long run, their immediate impact on food prices has been devastating for ordinary citizens. With unemployment rates still high and wages stagnant, many families are finding it harder than ever to put food on the table.
Some states are taking matters into their own hands. In Kaduna, the government has launched a large-scale irrigation project to boost year-round farming. In Ekiti, officials are experimenting with direct food price controls in markets to prevent price gouging. These localized efforts show promise, but without a coordinated national strategy, they remain isolated solutions in a country of over 200 million people.
So where does Nigeria go from here? Experts suggest a multi-pronged approach: increasing investment in agriculture, securing rural areas to allow farming to resume, stabilizing the economy to control food inflation, and implementing the Right to Food Act with clear, measurable goals. Without these steps, the hunger crisis will only worsen, pushing more Nigerians into poverty and malnutrition.
The irony is hard to ignore. A country that once prided itself on being the “Giant of Africa” is now struggling to feed its people. Nigeria doesn’t just need food—it needs a plan, a commitment, and the political will to make the Right to Food Act more than just a piece of paper. Until then, the hunger games continue, and for millions of Nigerians, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
