As Nigeria grapples with the cascading effects of inflation, one of the most devastating consequences is unfolding at the dinner tables of millions: soaring food prices are worsening hunger and deepening the burden of malnutrition. At No Hunger Food Bank (NHFB), on-the-field experiences by the NHFB team during our regular Temporary Food Assistance Program (TFAP) buttress this new reality in underserved communities in Nigeria.

According to the 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), UNICEF, and the United Nations, nearly one in four people in Africa faced hunger in 2024, with Nigeria among the countries experiencing the sharpest deterioration. The report underscores how food price inflation is no longer a temporary shock but a chronic barrier to food security and adequate nutrition.

Residents in Karon Majigi IDP camp, New Kuchingoro camp, and Durumi camp in Abuja are among the populations hit the hardest by this deteriorating situation. Their livelihoods have already been displaced due to conflicts, and high food prices now make even the basics unreachable to them. At No Hunger Food Bank, we see our interventions as being in greater need than ever.

For Nigerian households already contending with poverty, the continued rise in food prices means less diverse and less nutritious diets. As food staples like rice, maize, and cooking oil become unaffordable, families are forced to shift to cheaper, calorie-dense options, sacrificing essential nutrients. This also leads to a growing “hidden hunger” crisis, marked by widespread micronutrient deficiencies, especially in women and children

•Urban poor populations are increasingly consuming ultra-processed, nutrient-poor diets.

• Maternal undernutrition is spiking in IDP camps and food-insecure states like Borno, Katsina, and Sokoto.

The SOFI report notes that domestic food price inflation in Nigeria has outpaced income growth for most citizens. This threatens progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and places a financial strain on national nutrition programs.

This makes existing food aid interventions even more critical, but also more costly and difficult to sustain. NHFB, through its food banking component, continues to provide support to the vulnerable and, now more than ever, continues to seek innovative solutions to the problem of hunger.

Policymakers, researchers, and food systems actors must act fast to protect the nutritional status of vulnerable populations. NHICON recommends the following:

• Scale up nutrition-sensitive social protection programs – The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, together with the National Social Investment Program (NSIP), should prioritize cash and food transfer programs for children and pregnant women. Micro-loans and trainings provided through the Government Enterprise & Empowerment Program (GEEP) will also help to strengthen the economic situation of the vulnerable.

• Subsidize nutrient-rich foods, not just staple grains – The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the private agribusiness sector, can incentivize the production and distribution of affordable protein and micronutrient-rich foods. Support can be provided to farmers through government initiatives such as the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-pocket Project(NAGS-AP) which is a platform aimed at increasing food security through the distribution of subsidised agricultural inputs to registered farmers nationwide.

• Support urban agriculture and home gardening initiatives – City governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) should integrate small-scale farming infrastructure into urban planning. NHFB’s Vertical Backyard Farming (Vert2FAMNN) project is a proven success story in this regard, showing how displaced families in Durumi and Karon Majigi can grow vegetables even in limited spaces.

• Leverage digital tools for decision-making – The NHFB Hunger Map, being developed with international collaborators, provides real-time data on food insecurity hotspots. This tool can guide government ministries, humanitarian agencies, and private food actors in targeting interventions more effectively and planning responses to hunger and food inflation.

As Nigeria continues to navigate the global economic shocks and domestic policy gaps fueling food inflation, nutrition must not be sidelined. Hunger is not just about empty stomachs; it is about undermined futures.

At NHICON, we remain committed to ending hunger by:

• Promoting conversation and information exchange about best practices in hunger response.

• Supporting agrifood tech adoption and agribusiness investment.

• Advancing policy advocacy and evidence-based solutions.

• Championing innovative programs like TFAP, Vert2FAMNN, and the Hunger Map to drive impact at scale.

Looking forward, NHICON is planning a National Hunger and Food security Summit, which will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders, government ministries, international agencies, agrifood businesses, civil society, and grassroots leaders from IDP communities to meet and develop concrete, actionable steps to alleviate hunger and stabilize food systems in Nigeria.