Nigeria’s food security outlook has significantly worsened over the last decade, reflecting a global trend where millions of households struggle to afford nutritious diets. According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) report, the cost of a healthy diet in Nigeria rose by a staggering 39.5 percent over the past ten years. This rate of increase is among the highest recorded in West Africa and drastically outpaces income growth for many families, forcing them to opt for cheaper, less nutritious food choices.
The rise in food costs highlights severe fragilities within Nigeria’s food system, which is battling high inflation, continuous currency depreciation, insecurity in key farming regions, and declining purchasing power.
Deepening Food Insecurity
The SOFI report reveals troubling figures, showing that 36.2 percent of Nigerians faced severe food insecurity between 2021 and 2023. Across the broader West African region, the situation is even more critical, with 56 percent of the population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity. The report attributes this widespread crisis to armed conflict, severe climatic shocks, and sustained high food prices, which have eroded household economic resilience.
A core finding is the overwhelming unaffordability of nutritious food, particularly for low-income households. Across West Africa, a distressing 69.8 percent of people cannot afford a healthy diet. Nigeria, despite being the region’s largest economy, is heavily impacted, with millions unable to access nutrient-dense foods such as fresh vegetables, dairy, and lean proteins.
Dietary Shift and Health Outcomes
This affordability crisis is directly linked to negative nutritional outcomes, illustrating a dual burden of hunger and emerging overweight trends. Between 2012 and 2022, the share of overweight children in Nigeria increased from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent, while adult obesity reached seven percent in 2022. These numbers underscore a shift toward calorie-dense but nutrient-poor diets, driven by the high cost of healthier alternatives.
The structural weaknesses fueling Nigeria’s food insecurity are complex. They include inflationary pressure, climatic disruptions affecting agricultural yields, and persistent insecurity in key food-producing areas. These factors, combined with a rising population, strain domestic supply and increase reliance on costly food imports at a time when foreign exchange is tight.
With the cost of recommended diets rising faster than incomes, the SOFI report stresses the urgent need for robust policy intervention. This includes measures to stabilise prices, significantly boost local food production, strengthen agricultural value chains, and fundamentally improve household purchasing power to mitigate rising malnutrition risks, especially among women and children.
