IMPACT OF SECURITY CHALLENGES ON FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF FOOD PRODUCTION FOCUS

Abstract

Intakes of adequate and quality food on sustainable basis are prerequisite for good health. However, food security cannot be achieved amidst security challenges. In the recent decade food production in Nigeria has been a challenge. This is owing to many reasons, including security challenges. The aim of this study was to provide information on the deplorable state of food production in Nigeria, as triggered by security challenges. This study also highlights impacts of the security challenges on food affordability, and consequently its effects on hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria. And by extension, this study conceptualized food production focus model (FPF) that if adopted, could improve rural food production in Nigeria. Databases such as Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Nigerian Journals Online, Scopus, Medline and Pubmed were used to search for relevant information on the impacts of the security challenges on farmers productivity. Findings from literature search revealed that access to sufficient, safe and quality food is now a serious concern in Nigeria in recent time due to the security challenges, coupled with increased population growth, rural-urban migration. Although migration may be multifaceted, however, security challenges play substantial roles, and have seriously affected the food production in several rural communities in Nigeria. And most worrisome is increased unemployment rate due to lost of jobs and investment phobia caused by the security challenges in Nigeria. Furthermore, the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic amidst the security challenges have further aggravated food and nutrition insecurity in Nigeria.