Nigeria's Agriculture Minister Links Food Crisis to Climate Change

Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, stated that Nigeria's projected food insecurity crisis is due to climate change, inconsistent rainfall, and the Super El Niño phenomenon. In a statement released on Monday, he responded to criticism regarding the October 2026 Cadre Harmonisé food security assessment, which forecasts that 33.5 million Nigerians could experience severe food and nutrition insecurity between June and August 2027.

Kyari accused opposition figures of misrepresenting the assessment for political gain, clarifying that it serves as an early-warning mechanism for food security risks rather than an election forecast. He noted a decrease in the projected number of food-insecure Nigerians from 34.8 million in 2026 to 33.5 million in 2027.

Kyari acknowledged the ongoing challenge of food insecurity and outlined government measures to address it, including expanding access to fertilizers, increasing mechanization, and improving security in farming communities like Marte and Guzamala in Borno State.