The United Nations (UN) has warned that about 64 percent of Nigeria's population, which represents about 82 million Nigerians are likely to go hungry by 2030.

The UN also made a call to the Federal Government to fight climate change, pest infestations and other threats to agricultural productivity in order to be able to manage the food scarcity issue.

A hike in food prices have also been recorded all across the country, with food inflation rate going as high as 41% in May 2024.

The previous years recorded food inflation in the country to be at 13.42 per cent, with the lowest point of -17.50 per cent in January 2000.

Speaking recently at the launch of CropWatch in Abuja, the Resident Humanitarian Coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, represented by one of the UN officials, Taofiq Braimoh, stated: “The government of Nigeria, in collaboration with others, conducts an annual food security survey. This year’s results are alarming: approximately 22 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2023, and around 80-82 million are at risk of severe food insecurity by 2030.

“Nigeria, like many countries, grapples with food insecurity, climate change, unreliable water patterns, pest infestations, and other threats to agricultural productivity. As an agrarian society, our farms’ success directly impacts food availability for our population. Leveraging technology is crucial to strengthening our agriculture sector and ensuring food security.”

He added that satellite-based crop monitoring provided real-time data on crop conditions, helping farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions and optimise agricultural practices.