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The World Bank Group in its latest Food Security Update, has said Nigeria alongside some West African countries, currently facing food crisis and insecurity, would only worsen in the course of the year.

According to the World Bank, the food crisis which has already begun would further worsen before the month of May 2023. The report noted that food insecurity is projected to worsen again in many areas as the dry season progresses in the months ahead, particularly in regions hit hardest by conflict and insecurity.

“Food security in Sanmatenga province in Burkina Faso; the Barh El Gazel, Kanem, and Lac regions in Chad; and several areas in Borno and Yobe states in Nigeria will deteriorate from Stressed to Crisis from March to May 2023.

“Over the same period, food insecurity will reach crisis levels in the north and west of the far north region in Cameroon, the Dababa and Mangalmé regions in Chad, and the Liptako Gourma area in Mali. Crisis levels of food insecurity will persist in northern Namentenga, Seno, and Yagha provinces in Burkina Faso; the northwestern and southwestern regions of Cameroon; the Ménaka region of Mali; and the western and northern parts of the Tillaberi and Tahoua regions of Niger. In Nigeria, the regions of west and south Katsina; north and south Sokoto; north and central Zamfara; northwestern, northeastern, and southeastern Kaduna, northeastern and southern Yobe, and western and eastern Borno will also continue to experience food crisis conditions.

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“Emergency levels of food insecurity already prevalent in parts of Northern Burkina Faso will spread to the country’s Yagha province because of armed conflict and insecurity.

The report also noted that The World Food Programme (WFP) began the discussions by detailing actions to prevent famine and severe food insecurity in 2023 and that donors were encouraged to take exceptional steps to provide resources for the response in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, where there are insufficient funds to prevent famine.

“Participants agreed on the need to develop an approach that prioritizes strengthening social safety nets; improving data to better understand needs and the response; improving funding allocations through more-efficient tracking, targeting, and prioritization; working with new actors beyond established networks; and improving and streamlining coordination mechanisms. “

“After the discussion on responding to urgent needs to prevent famine, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted the need to address the drivers of food price increases, support markets, build resilience, and manage risks to food systems. Several interventions were discussed to accomplish this, including actions to protect and expand investments to address underlying causes, including poverty, conflict, and climate change.”

The bank further added that in addition, improvement in market functionality and information; encouragement and expansion of regional cooperation and trade to increase food availability; and expansion of public, private, and international investment in food systems were among priorities that participants agreed upon.

It further states: “Strengthening the resilience of communities and countries to food insecurity was also recommended, with a focus on investing in early-warning systems, risk insurance, diversified sources of food supply and production, and research and development for more sustainable agriculture practices.

“The UN Global Crisis Response Group led the final discussion, which explored use of tools and approaches beyond ODA to address food insecurity, including better use of key policy levers, trade, and diplomacy. Participants discussed the need to develop multisectoral approaches and policy coherence across the range of methods available to influence food security, including supporting integration of food security considerations into national policies and influencing reform of the international financial architecture.”