The report, presented Friday in Abuja by the Nigeria Food Security Sector under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reveals that 27.2 million people, including 485,109 IDPs in the three states are already food insecure.State-level projections for the 2026 lean season include 2.9 million in Borno, 1.6 million in Yobe, and 1.4 million in Adamawa. 

Acute malnutrition has hit critical levels in parts of Borno (Central, Maiduguri, Jere, Mobbar), Yobe, and Katsina’s Jibia and Mashi LGAs.

Mortality remains low in most areas but has reached crisis (Phase 3) in multiple zones across the Northeast and Northwest, with emergency-level (Phase 4) deaths recorded in Eastern Borno and Northern Adamawa.

Key drivers include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, high input costs, climate shocks, and government food imports that have disrupted rural economies. 

Displacement continues to swell vulnerable populations.FAO Country Representative Hussein Gadain described the convergence of conflict, crime, economic pressures, and climate extremes as “unprecedented,” warning that high fertiliser and seed prices threaten future harvests. 

He urged policy support for farmers and praised Ekiti for joining the analysis while calling on remaining states to participate.

Permanent Secretary Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi called the findings “a wake-up call,” pledging to use them to target interventions under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) and the National Food Security and Nutrition Emergency Plan.

The analysis was supported by FAO, WFP, NBS, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services, Action Against Hunger, and other partners.