Opportunities in Crisis: Sustaining Food Security in Nigeria

• Published in: African Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies 2023-10, Vol.2023 (si1), p.47-68
• Main Authors: Edijala, Cecy, Josephine, Thizwilondi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Cereals; Consumer Price Index; Corn; Crises; Disguise; Displaced persons; Fertilizers; Food production; Food security; Food supply; Hunger; Inflation; Insecurity; International economic relations; Natural resources; Nigeria; Prices; Russia; Security management; Self sufficiency; Shortages; Sustainable development; Ukraine; Value chain; Wheat; Wheat industry
• ISSN: 2634-3657; 2634-3665
• DOI: 10.31920/2634-3665/2023/Sin1a3

This study examined how the Russia-Ukraine crisis presents an opportunity in disguise for addressing food insecurity in Nigeria, given its vast agricultural resources. For countries with sufficient agricultural resources, the crisis reveals opportunities for revamping their food production-supply value chain for self-sufficiency. Nigeria has abundant agricultural resources that can ensure national food security, yet food insecurity persists, due to several challenges. Unfortunately, while Nigeria, is still grappling with these multiple problems driving food insecurity, the Russia-Ukraine crisis has brought a new dimension to food insecurity. Nigeria’s dependence on importation from Russia and Ukraine, particularly for maize and wheat, contributes to increased prices of maize and wheat products, in the face of increasing inflation in the country. While the Russia-Ukraine crisis has led to food shortages in countries that depend on them for raw and finished agricultural produce/products, the situation also throws up opportunities for countries, especially countries like Nigeria with vast opportunities for ensuring food security. The state of food insecurity in Nigeria, the dynamics in situations that cause food insecurity, the nexus between the Russia-Ukraine war and food insecurity, and the domestic opportunities that could be leveraged to ensure self-sufficiency in Nigeria. The study uses secondary data sourced from publications, journals, and internet sources. The study revealed that the Russia-Ukraine war affected the availability of food in Nigeria and suggests that agricultural opportunities that abound in the country should be explored to ensure that the sustainable development goal that targets hunger and food insecurity is achieved.