They say when evil falls, it falls like rain. Today, that proverb feels painfully accurate for Nigeria. kidnappings, terrorism, and violent crime, a deeper and more dangerous crisis is unfolding — one defined by hunger, collapsing rural livelihoods, and a rapid slide into mass poverty.
In this episode of The Other Side, Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum examines the economic and security dynamics pushing Nigeria toward a food and poverty emergency. Recent reports cited by Vanguard reveal a sobering projection: no fewer than 141 million Nigerians are expected to live in poverty this year. This figure is drawn from the Economic Outlook 2026 published by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which warns that more than 62 percent of Nigeria’s population may fall below the poverty line as macroeconomic “reforms” take hold without adequate social or productive safeguards.
Economists quoted in the report describe the situation as severe and worsening — a reality driven not only by inflation and policy adjustment shocks, but by a breakdown in the country’s productive base, particularly agriculture. The crisis is visible on the ground. In Kaduna State alone, over 2,000 farmers recorded losses estimated at ₦10.16 billion during the 2025 farming season.
These farmers, drawn from all three senatorial districts, were hit by a nationwide crash in maize prices while the cost of fertilizers, seeds, and other inputs continued to rise sharply. Many are now appealing to the federal government and the Central Bank for urgent intervention. Similar patterns are playing out elsewhere. Cassava farmers in Atani and surrounding communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area suffered devastating post-harvest losses due to flooding, leaving many unable to recover financially.
According to BusinessDay, more than 1,356 farmers have been killed in the last five years due to persistent insecurity — a figure widely considered conservative given the scale of rural violence and unreported kidnappings.
In states such as Benue State and Taraba State, entire farming communities have been displaced for years. In some areas, farmers can only access their land after paying protection money to bandits. In others, those who attempt to harvest their crops are attacked or killed. The result is a shrinking agricultural workforce and abandoned farmlands across Nigeria’s food-producing belts.
Yet insecurity is only half the story. Government policy has compounded the crisis. The decision to license large-scale importation of rice, maize, and beans has collapsed local prices, leaving farmers unable to sell their produce at sustainable rates. Traders who once exported Nigerian beans can no longer do so. Domestic produce is now selling below market value, making it impossible for farmers to reinvest in the next planting season. This creates a dangerous cycle: low prices discourage farming; insecurity prevents access to land; rising input costs block recovery; and cheap imports undermine local production.
As farmers exit agriculture, unemployment rises, especially among young people who would otherwise remain in rural communities. Looking ahead, Nigeria faces a looming twin crisis — worsening unemployment and severe food shortages. If farmers cannot return to their fields, and if government lacks the resources to sustain imports indefinitely, food availability will decline sharply. Even where imports continue, affordability will remain out of reach for millions displaced by violence or trapped in urban slums.
In this episode, The Other Side asks critical questions: Are Nigeria’s economic reforms structured to protect the productive sector? Why does government prioritise food importation over supporting domestic farmers? Should Nigeria adopt production-focused subsidies — similar to policies in the United States — by buying farm produce at market value instead of flooding the market with cheap imports?
Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum challenges policymakers, analysts, and citizens to rethink Nigeria’s economic trajectory. Without security in rural areas and deliberate investment in local production, reforms risk deepening poverty rather than reversing it.
What is your assessment of the government’s approach? Can Nigeria reverse this trend before hunger and unemployment spiral further out of control? Subscribe for weekly insights on Nigeria’s politics and democracy.
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