The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised concern over the growing food crisis in Nigeria’s conflict-ridden northeast, revealing that over 3.7 million people are currently facing food insecurity in the region.
According to a statement issued by the humanitarian organization, many of the affected individuals are farmers who, before the prolonged insurgency, provided sustenance for their communities. Years of violence have displaced families, restricted access to farmlands, and disrupted local food production.
A community leader in Dikwa, Modu Umar, was quoted as saying, “Right now, we face severe food shortages,” adding that some families are forced to trek long distances daily to collect firewood to sell in order to buy food. He emphasized, “Farming is the only solution to hunger.”
In many communities, insecurity significantly limits farmers’ mobility. “Some people trek three hours to reach their farms,” said Churi Ibrahim, a 70-year-old farmer from Gajibo. “By the time you reach your farm, you’re already exhausted, and when you return home, it’s late.”
Despite the danger, farmers are left with no choice but to forge ahead. “Even when you’re afraid, you have to go,” said Bintu Konto, a mother of five. “If you don’t farm during the rainy season, you’ll have nothing to eat.”
As the lean season begins and food reserves run low, the pressure continues to mount. Head of the ICRC office in Maiduguri, Diana Japaridze, stated, “This is when households must start purchasing food, but many conflict-affected families can’t afford much. They’re forced to drastically limit their intake.”
The ICRC further noted that the ongoing food insecurity is contributing to increased malnutrition, particularly among children under five, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.
To alleviate the crisis and promote resilience, the ICRC said it is supporting malnutrition stabilization centres and providing community education to help families care for vulnerable children. It has also launched an agricultural assistance programme to support both rainy and dry season farming.
According to the ICRC, more than 21,000 farming households have been given seeds adapted to local conditions and seed planting tools aimed at reducing labour and increasing efficiency. The distributed seeds include staple crops like rice and maize, as well as vegetables such as tomato and okra, helping to improve dietary diversity and nutrition.
Farmers are also being trained in sustainable agricultural practices to build local capacity and ensure continued productivity beyond ICRC’s presence.
The organization added that, in partnership with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), it recently repaired a major water source critical for seed testing and greenhouse operations, ensuring sustained water access.
Despite these efforts, the lean season remains a daunting period for many families. “For a large family like mine, sometimes we don’t even get one meal a day,” Churi Ibrahim lamented.
