Nigeria spent N7.65tn on food and beverage imports in 2025, yet hunger and malnutrition continue to worsen, raising fresh concerns among nutrition and economic experts about the quality, affordability, and accessibility of food in the country.
The experts, in exclusive interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, noted that local production and reduced food prices have not translated into better access to food for Nigerians, stating that low incomes and high unemployment continue to drive hunger, as many Nigerians lack the purchasing power to afford available food.
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They explained that structural and economic challenges, such as high production and processing costs, poor logistics, expensive transportation and exchange rate depreciation, contribute to high food prices, creating the disconnect between increased food imports and access.
Despite these rising import figures, Nigeria continues to face a hunger crisis.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation reports that about 27.2 million Nigerians across the country are currently facing hunger, a figure which could rise to 34.7 million between June and August 2026 if timely interventions are not implemented to address the rising food security challenges.
The organisation, in its October 2025 Cadre Harmonisé analysis, stated that the worsening hunger and food insecurity situation in the country was driven by persistent conflicts and violence in some of the states known for food production, economic shocks, armed violence, organised crimes, particularly in the North-West and North-East, and climate-related shocks like prolonged dry spells and floods in some communities.
It further noted declining purchasing power, high food inflation and seasonal food stock depletion as factors contributing to the situation.
Although prices of food and the food inflation rate dropped in December 2025 and into January 2026, recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that food inflation rose to 12.12 per cent in February,reversing the single-digit level recorded in the past few months.
The data also showed rising prices of several staple foods across the country, with farmers attributing the increase to the high cost of inputs and calling for government intervention to curb the surge in food prices.
PUNCH Healthwise had earlier reported that data from the latest Foreign Trade Statistics report released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Nigeria spent N7.65 trillion on food and beverage importation in 2025.
A comparison of previous food and beverage import expenditure shows a steady increase in the amount the country spends on the commodity every year.
For example, in 2024, N6.58tn was spent, while in 2023, the country’s food and beverage import was N3.83tn.
This implies that the food and beverage import bill rose by N1.07tn between 2025 and 2024, highlighting the country’s dependence on foreign food supplies for both industrial production and household consumption.
The seasoned experts called for increased local production of nutrient-dense foods, strengthened fortification programmes and widespread nutrition education to improve diet quality and reduce reliance on imported, unhealthy foods.
They also urged the government to boost agricultural productivity through mechanisation and subsidised inputs, while fixing logistics and infrastructure to cut food costs and improve affordability.
Commenting on the matter, Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Beatrice Ogunba, said the rising import figures do not translate into better nutrition outcomes, noting that much of the food being imported is unhealthy and unaffordable for most Nigerians.
She said, “The issue is not just how much food is imported, but what kind of food is available, who can afford it, and whether it meets nutritional needs. We are importing ultra-processed foods that are energy-dense and nutrient-poor.”
Ogunba warned that such foods contribute to obesity and non-communicable diseases while failing to provide essential nutrients, adding that they also undermine local production of healthier food options.
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“Increased imports do not equal better nutrition,” she said.
The seasoned nutritionist further explained that weak purchasing power remains a major barrier, as declining incomes and previously high food prices continue to limit access to balanced diets.
“Income of Nigerians has remained low over the years, and food prices have consistently increased. A drop now does not mean prices have returned to previous levels, so purchasing power is still weak,” she added.
The nutrition expert noted that Nigeria is facing a double burden of malnutrition, with rising cases of undernutrition alongside increasing overweight and obesity.
“Stunting in Nigeria is still around 40 per cent. Diets are lacking in essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin A and zinc, leading to increased susceptibility to infections and poor health outcomes,” she said.
The don further explained that many households cannot afford diverse and nutritious diets, leading to poor health outcomes despite the availability of food in the market.
She noted, “Much of the available food is energy-dense and nutrient-poor, and many households cannot afford healthy diets.”
Ogunba called for increased investment in local production of nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables and legumes, as well as greater awareness of food fortification and nutrition education.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, attributed the disconnect between rising imports and persistent hunger to inflationary pressures, exchange rate depreciation and structural inefficiencies.
He explained that many imported food items require further processing, which increases their final cost due to high energy, logistics and financing expenses.
“The fact that something has landed at the port does not mean it will be cheap, especially if it requires further processing. Structural challenges such as power, logistics and cost of funds will increase the price,” Yusuf said.
The immediate past Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry added that exchange rate fluctuations also inflate import costs, even when the volume of goods remains unchanged.
“If the exchange rate depreciates, the amount you pay for imports will increase, even if the volume has not changed,” he said.
The seasoned economist further noted that high transportation costs and poor infrastructure contribute to rising food prices, often doubling the cost of food between the farm and the market.
“By the time food is moved from the farm to the market, the price can double because of logistics,” he said.
Yusuf stressed that low incomes and high unemployment continue to drive hunger, as many Nigerians lack the purchasing power to afford available food.
“Even if something is cheap and you do not have the income to buy it, it will not make any difference,” he added.
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He called for increased agricultural productivity through mechanisation, subsidised inputs and improved logistics to make food more affordable and accessible to Nigerians.
Punch