Nigeria Faces Severe Food Insecurity with 36.3 Million Affected

According to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Nigeria has recorded the highest number of severely food-insecure individuals among 17 African countries tracked in August 2026, with 36.3 million citizens facing Crisis-level hunger or worse. This figure represents 16.7 percent of Nigeria's population classified in the IPC/CH Phase 3+ bracket.

The report attributes the food insecurity to factors such as conflict, insecurity, displacement, high food prices, and weather-related disruptions to agricultural production. In comparison, South Sudan has 7.8 million affected, while Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Niger follow with 4.1 million, 3.5 million, 2.5 million, and 2.4 million, respectively.

Despite Nigeria's high absolute numbers, the proportional impact is less severe than in smaller economies like South Sudan, where 55 percent of the population is in crisis. AGRA's findings indicate a deteriorating food security situation, with projections from PwC and the Food and Agriculture Organisation also highlighting significant risks for millions of Nigerians.