In spite of the steady increase in agriculture output, hunger continues to rise across Nigeria. Recent data from the World Bank reveal a 60 percent surge in food insecurity across African countries over the last decade, despite Nigeria’s agricultural advancements. This creates confusion among Nigerians because markets are stocked, but households remain empty and struggle to afford daily meals. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s food inflation stood at an alarming 40.53 percent in April 2025. The total inflation rate fell somewhat to 23.71 percent, but food prices continued to rise, highlighting the persistent affordability crisis at the basis of the country’s food insecurity. This prolonged increase in food prices burdens the household, making it quite difficult for many Nigerians to access basic amenities. The question is no longer whether Nigerians can grow crops and food, but rather, “Does the food get to the people who need it the most?”
Tracing Nigeria’s broken food distribution system
What is keeping the food from reaching Nigerian households isn’t a lack of production and supply but rather a failure of movement, access, and policy. Many farmers in rural communities struggle to get their produce into urban markets for reasons such as poor roads, transportation hardships, middlemen markups, and post-harvest losses, and by the time food gets to consumers, prices have skyrocketed.
Middlemen and mark-up culture
Farmers often sell produce at low prices to middlemen due to lack of access to market, but this often leads to hiked prices, making it unaffordable for consumers. Several studies have shown the influence of the middlemen on the market price of goods affecting income and food insecurity.
Poor transportation infrastructure
Many farms where food comes from are cut off from urban markets due to bad roads. In Benue and states in the North where food comes from, the “food basket” of Nigeria, farmers report that up to 40 percent of perishable crops go bad due to bad roads and lack of proper storage.
Insecurity in farming regions
Frequently, we encounter reports of conflict and banditry, yet we fail to comprehend their implications unless we dive into the daily perspective of Northern farmers confronting these obstacles. Such problems hinder effective agricultural practices, leading to neglected and inaccessible farmland, ultimately culminating in food scarcity. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that in the North-West and North-East regions, over 1.4 million people cannot farm or access food due to conflict-related displacement.
Also Read: Why Nigeria’s latest 24.48percent inflation rate feels outside the reality households live
Food isn’t just food, it’s power.
Food isn’t just food but a symbol of survival, dignity, and control. It shapes the very fabric of Nigerian society, dictating who thrives and who struggles. When food flows freely and fairly, it fuels communities, economies, and hope. But when the path from farms to tables is blocked by corruption, conflict, and inefficiencies, food becomes a weapon of inequality.
For millions of Nigerians, access to food is a daily struggle. And when we take a deeper look we can see that the scarcity in the kitchen isn’t just hunger, it’s a reflection of power. Power over market and livelihoods. Food can be seen as a political currency, wielded by those in control of the supply chain.
Until these broken links between farmers and families are mended, food will continue to remain more than nutrition. It will remain a silent but potent force of who thrives and who struggles and then might we understand that solving food insecurity isn’t just about filling up plates, but about restoring power to the people in Nigeria.
