Climate Change and Food Security in Nigeria

Abstract

The alarming rate of incidences of floods, drought, ocean heat, changes in snow and rainfall patterns, heavy rainstorms, increased frequency of heavy precipitation, depleting soil nutrients, and dwindling environmental quality indicates that climate change can cause severe risks to food security and nutritional outcomes in Nigeria. With all the pieces of evidence of climate change, only one percent of total arable land is equipped for irrigation in Nigeria. This study examines the impact of climate change on food security and nutritional outcomes in Nigeria. The study showed the country’s readiness to tackle climate change and its vulnerability to climate change. The devastating impact of climate change on agricultural productivity, food insecurity, the number of people undernourished, and the average protein and dietary energy supply were revealed. The extent of climate change impact was reported alongside relevant policy directions to tackle climate change and reduce the prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria.