As the world marks World Food Day 2025 under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” Nigeria faces a stark reality. Once renowned for its rich culinary heritage and fertile farmlands, the nation now grapples with import dependency, ultra-processed diets, rising food inflation, and fragile agricultural systems.
This is more than a food crisis; it is a public health and economic crisis. Millions of Nigerians, from rural farmers to urban consumers, are caught between hunger, poor nutrition, and a broken supply chain. World Food Day serves as a global reminder: food security is a collective responsibility, and in Nigeria, the stakes could not be higher.
Speaking exclusively with Pinnacle Daily, Abayomi Sarumi, Associate Director of the Food Justice Policy Programme, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), paints a troubling picture: “Nigeria is losing its traditional food identity due to westernization. Urban diets are now dominated by ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and trans fats. These foods are fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and reducing productivity.”
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Sarumi explains that while urban populations increasingly rely on packaged and processed foods, Nigeria’s agricultural backbone remains underfunded and neglected.
“We’ve consistently deprived the agricultural sector of the support needed to produce enough nutritious food. So, we’re facing two crises at once: unhealthy diets and insufficient production.”
He warns that current government policies, though well-intentioned, are fragmented and inconsistently applied, reducing their effectiveness in safeguarding public health.
The Double Burden: Malnutrition Meets Policy Gaps
Even as the government introduces healthy food initiatives, implementation remains slow. Sarumi highlighted NAFDAC’s trans fat regulation, set to take effect in February 2026, as a step in the right direction.
“These efforts are commendable, but piecemeal policies won’t work. Labelling, marketing restrictions, and food reformulation must be implemented together to have real impact.”
He also sounded the alarm on junk food marketing to children, calling it a public health emergency: “We allow multinational companies to target children directly. Kids don’t know better, yet adverts push them toward foods that damage their health.”
With over 70% of Nigerians paying out-of-pocket for healthcare, Sarumi stresses that preventive nutrition policies are not just health measures; they are economic necessities.
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To understand how these issues affect everyday Nigerians, Pinnacle Daily went into the streets.
Everyday Nigerians are feeling the impact of the country’s shifting food landscape. Grace Ede, a civil servant in the FCT, noted that while healthy local foods are available, urban diets increasingly rely on processed imports, highlighting the need for education to help people make better choices.
Usman Bello, a trader, added that local crop prices are high, while imported junk foods remain cheap, prompting many to choose convenience over nutrition.
Ngozi Umeh emphasised that policies exist, but enforcement is weak, leaving farmers and markets without adequate support to provide nutritious food.
Chike Obi, a Lagos-based youth leader, argued that schools should teach children about healthy eating, warning that marketing junk food to young minds poses serious health risks.
These voices paint a picture of a nation caught between traditional food knowledge and modern market pressures, struggling to make nutritious choices amid rising food prices.
Collaboration is Key: A Call for Structural Reform
Ambassador Abiodun Olaniyi, Executive Director of AgriQuest Africa Network, emphasised that food security is not the responsibility of the government alone.
“Food security requires farmers, citizens, experts, and investors working hand in hand. Only through collaboration can we build a resilient, equitable, and sustainable food system.” He outlined critical areas of reform:
- Climate-Smart Agriculture: Help farmers adapt to climate change, reduce emissions, and boost productivity.
- Food Waste Reduction: Improve storage, logistics, and distribution to reduce post-harvest losses.
- Inclusive Food Systems: Empower smallholder farmers, women, and youth to participate and benefit from agriculture.
- Policy Coordination: Integrate nutrition, agriculture, and economic policy for faster, more effective impact.
With food inflation at 21.87% in September 2025, Olaniyi warned: “Food insecurity is a national security issue. When people can’t afford food, it fuels poverty and social unrest. Stabilizing the food system is critical for national stability.”
A Roadmap to a Food-Secure Nigeria
Both experts agree, Nigeria’s food future depends on coordinated action across sectors. Their recommendations include:
- Investing in agroecology and reducing pesticide use.
- Promoting renewable energy and sustainable water management in agriculture.
- Providing funding for youth and women-led agricultural projects.
- Strengthening local value chains for key crops: sorghum, millet, maize, and yams.
- Educating citizens about nutrition and healthy eating habits.
“If we work hand in hand, our food system in the next five years can be resilient, inclusive, and self-sustaining,” Olaniyi said.
| Indicator | Value / Note |
|---|---|
| Food inflation (Sept 2025) | 21.87% |
| Out-of-pocket healthcare | 70% of Nigerians |
| Trans fat regulation | Enforces Feb 2026 |
| Agriculture employment | 35%+ of workforce |
| Core staples | Sorghum, millet, maize, yam |
“Corruption in the food system isn’t only about theft; it’s about neglecting policies that protect people’s right to eat healthy,” says Sarumi.
From Farm to Factory: Nigeria’s Food Transition
- Pre-2000 diet: yam, beans, millet, palm oil
- 2025 urban diet: instant noodles, soda, refined oils
- Health impact: obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases
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Amid Nigeria’s struggle with unhealthy diets and food insecurity, official data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) paints a stark picture. As of September 2025, the year-on-year food inflation rate stood at 16.87%, down slightly from 21.87% in August, marking a marginal improvement in food prices. However, monthly comparisons show that inflation remains stubbornly high, with food prices falling only 1.57% from August, highlighting persistent cost pressures for everyday Nigerians.
Regional disparities exacerbate the challenge. States like Ekiti (28.6%), Rivers (24.18%), and Nasarawa (22.74%) recorded the highest food inflation, while Bauchi (2.81%), Niger (8.38%), and Anambra (8.41%) saw relatively lower price hikes. Such uneven inflation patterns mean that access to nutritious food remains extremely challenging for many households.
The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) further illustrates the financial burden. In March 2024, the national average CoHD was ₦982 per adult per day, rising sharply to ₦1,346 by September 2024 — a 37% increase within six months. Regional differences remain stark: the South West averages ₦1,198, while the North West averages only ₦787 per adult per day.
These figures underscore the dual crisis: rising food costs and the proliferation of ultra-processed, unhealthy diets, which disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. For a country where over 70% of citizens pay out-of-pocket for healthcare, the inability to afford nutritious food threatens both health and productivity.
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Incorporating this data into Nigeria’s World Food Day 2025 narrative emphasises the urgency of holistic reforms, as experts call for policy coordination, investment in local agriculture, and protection against exploitative marketing of junk foods. The statistics serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and citizens alike, highlighting the need to act now to secure affordable, nutritious food for all Nigerians.
Nigeria’s path is clear: one road leads to dependency on ultra-processed foods, rising health risks, and economic loss; the other toward a resilient, nutrition-focused, and inclusive food system.
World Food Day 2025 is a reminder that policy, production, education, and citizen action must move in concert. Only by working together — hand in hand — can Nigeria secure its health, prosperity, and future.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
