UN warns of food insecurity in northern Nigeria – dw.com

 

Report on the Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Nigeria and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: An Unprecedented Threat to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

The United Nations (UN) has classified the escalating food crisis in northern Nigeria as “unprecedented,” presenting a severe challenge to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger). Despite the region’s traditional role as Nigeria’s agricultural hub, an estimated 5 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that nearly 31 million Nigerians require life-saving food assistance, highlighting a critical failure in food security systems.

• Acute Malnutrition: Affecting at least 5 million children.
• Food Insecurity: An estimated 31 million people face acute food insecurity.
• Affected Regions: In northeastern Nigeria alone, over one million people are confronting hunger.

Analysis of Causal Factors Impeding SDG Progress

Protracted Insecurity and the Erosion of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

The primary driver of the crisis is persistent insecurity, which directly undermines SDG 16. The failure of the state to provide security for its rural populations has allowed non-state actors to destabilize the region, leading to a breakdown of law and order. This environment of violence prevents the functioning of a peaceful and inclusive society.

• Jihadist Insurgency: Groups like Boko Haram continue to threaten the northeast, causing mass displacement and death. The UN estimates the conflict has killed over 40,000 people and displaced more than two million in 16 years.
• Banditry and Communal Clashes: The northwest and north-central regions are plagued by banditry and farmer-herder conflicts, crippling rural economies.
• Coercive Control: Armed groups have restructured agricultural activities through force, demanding “protection” levies and compelling villagers into forced labor on seized farmlands.

Governance Deficits and Systemic Neglect

Analysts assert that the crisis is fundamentally a consequence of poor governance and systemic neglect, rather than solely a result of aid reductions. This failure of governance is a core impediment to SDG 16, as state institutions have been unable to deliver basic services or security, particularly to rural populations. In this context, hunger is not merely a byproduct of war but a direct outcome of systemic institutional failure.

Challenges to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Dwindling International Aid

The crisis is compounded by significant shortfalls in international funding, highlighting a critical challenge to SDG 17. The WFP has warned of a potential cessation of its emergency food aid program due to these funding gaps.

• The WFP’s 2025 appeal for over $130 million for Nigeria was only 21% funded by late July.
• The organization’s food and nutrition stocks have been reported as “completely exhausted.”
• The dismantling of programs like USAID has further reduced the availability of aid in West Africa.

Socio-Economic Impacts and Setbacks to Development Goals

Mass Displacement and the Reversal of SDG 1 (No Poverty)

Insecurity has forced millions to flee their homes and agricultural lands, leading to mass internal displacement and a severe regression on SDG 1 (No Poverty). Displaced individuals, such as those in the Ramin Kura camp, have lost their primary means of livelihood and are forced into precarious situations, relying on begging or odd jobs for survival. The loss of agricultural income has pushed entire communities into extreme poverty.

1. Villagers are forced to flee rural areas due to attacks, killings, and theft of livestock.
2. Displaced persons are unable to return to their farmlands, cutting them off from their livelihoods.
3. Lack of food and economic opportunity in camps creates widespread suffering and desperation.

Collapse of Agricultural Livelihoods and Economic Stability (SDG 8)

The inability of farmers to safely cultivate their land has led to the collapse of the rural economy, directly impacting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Agricultural production of staples like maize, millet, and sorghum has plummeted. Farmers face a constant threat of violence, kidnapping for ransom, and the destruction of their harvests, making sustainable farming impossible.

• Farming Under Duress: Farmers who attempt to work their fields risk being kidnapped or killed. Access to farms often requires security escorts.
• Economic Coercion: Armed groups control access to farmland, extorting payments from villagers who wish to cultivate their own fields.
• Food Price Inflation: Reduced local production has caused the price of staple foods to soar, adding financial stress to already vulnerable populations.

Conclusion: A Compounded Crisis Hindering Sustainable Development

The situation in northern Nigeria represents a complex emergency where failures in achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) have created a cascading negative impact on SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The crisis is sustained by a vicious cycle of insecurity, governance failure, and economic collapse. Appeals for displaced persons to return to farming are untenable without first establishing security. The pervasive hunger and lack of opportunity also create a fertile ground for recruitment by armed groups, further perpetuating the conflict and obstructing any path toward sustainable development for the region.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article’s central theme is the “looming hunger crisis” and “acute food insecurity” in northern Nigeria. It explicitly states that “nearly 31 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity” and “at least 5 million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition,” which directly relates to the goal of ending hunger and malnutrition.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article identifies “protracted insecurity,” “poor governance,” and the “Nigerian state’s failure to provide security” as the root causes of the crisis. It details violence from “jihadist groups” and “bandits,” including killings, kidnappings, and displacement, which are direct challenges to peace, justice, and the effectiveness of institutions.

SDG 1: No Poverty

• The conflict and resulting inability to farm have destroyed livelihoods, pushing people into poverty. The article describes displaced individuals having to “resort to begging or doing odd jobs” and earning “a little money by washing plates to buy food for her children,” highlighting the economic desperation and poverty caused by the crisis.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article points to a lack of economic opportunities, noting “few job opportunities” and “jobless and hungry” young men. Furthermore, it describes exploitative labor conditions where armed groups compel people to serve as “forced labor on farmlands,” which is a direct violation of the principles of decent work.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The role of international aid and its limitations are discussed. The article mentions “dwindling aid funds,” the “dismantling of USAID,” and a “critical funding shortfall” for the World Food Programme (WFP), showing the challenges in mobilizing financial resources and maintaining partnerships to address the crisis.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food. The article highlights the failure to meet this target by describing how “over one million people are believed to be facing hunger” in the northeast alone and that 31 million people nationwide “need life-saving food.”
• Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition. The statement that “at least 5 million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition” directly relates to this target.
• Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The article shows this target is not being met, as insecurity prevents farming. One resident states, “We couldn’t farm this year,” and describes how bandits “attack before the harvest” or “burn everything” after, making agriculture completely unsustainable.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates. The article provides direct evidence of the failure to achieve this, stating that violence “has already killed over 40,000 people” and describing ongoing attacks where bandits “killed her husband” and people “get kidnapped while working.”
• Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime. The article explicitly points to a failure in this area, quoting an analyst who says the crisis is a consequence of the “Nigerian state’s failure to provide security and deliver basic governance to its rural populations.”

SDG 1: No Poverty

• Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and reduce their vulnerability to economic, social and environmental shocks. The article illustrates the extreme vulnerability of the population, who are forced to flee their homes and livelihoods due to violence, becoming “internally displaced people” living in camps with no resilience to the ongoing shocks.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour. The article directly points to the existence of forced labor, stating that survival for some depends on entering “exploitative arrangements with armed groups” which includes being compelled to “serve as forced labor on farmlands.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources. The article shows a failure to meet this target, as the WFP’s appeal for “over $130 million… was only 21% funded,” indicating a severe shortfall in mobilized resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Indicator 2.1.1 (Prevalence of undernourishment): The figure “nearly 31 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity” serves as a direct measure for this indicator.
• Indicator 2.2.1 (Prevalence of stunting/wasting): The statistic that “at least 5 million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition” is a key indicator of malnutrition.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide): The figure that violence “has already killed over 40,000 people” is a direct indicator of conflict-related deaths.
• Indicator 16.1.3 (Proportion of population subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence): The article implies a high proportion through accounts of killings, kidnappings, and the constant fear that forces entire communities to flee.
• Indicator for displaced persons: The statistic that “more than two million” people have been displaced from their homes serves as a clear indicator of the scale of the conflict’s impact.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Indicator 17.3.1 (Foreign direct investment, official development assistance… as a proportion of total domestic budget): The funding shortfall for the WFP is a specific financial indicator. The fact that its “$130 million” appeal was “only 21% funded” provides a quantifiable measure of the gap in international financial support.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Indicator 8.7.1 (Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labour/forced labour): The mention of people being compelled to serve as “forced labor on farmlands” by armed groups is a qualitative indicator for the existence of forced labor.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs	Targets	Indicators Identified in the Article
SDG 2: Zero Hunger	2.1: End hunger and ensure access to food. 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition. 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems.	– “nearly 31 million Nigerians face acute food insecurity.” – “at least 5 million children are already suffering from acute malnutrition.” – Farmers are unable to plant, or their crops are burned/attacked before harvest.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates. 16.a: Strengthen national institutions to prevent violence.	– “killed over 40,000 people.” – “displaced more than two million from their homes.” – “Nigerian state’s failure to provide security and deliver basic governance.”
SDG 1: No Poverty	1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and reduce their vulnerability to shocks.	– People forced to flee homes to displacement camps. – Loss of primary livelihood (farming). – People “resort to begging or doing odd jobs” to survive.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	8.7: Eradicate forced labour.	– People compelled to “serve as forced labor on farmlands” by armed groups.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources.	– WFP’s appeal for “$130 million” was “only 21% funded.” – “dwindling aid funds” and “critical funding shortfalls.”

Source: dw.com