FAO report adds Nigeria to food aid list

The El Nino effect has worsened food security situation in southern Africa, and experts project a 26% drop in grain harvests this year. The drop is also expected to trigger an increase in corn prices and import needs in the next marketing year.

According to a new FAO report, the El Nino induced drought and civil unrests have increased the number of countries that need food aid to 37 from 34 last March.

The report added Papua New Guinea, Haiti and Nigeria to the list.

Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest economy and largest in population, features in the list as a result of massive internal displacement of populations fleeing conflict in the country’s nothern states.

Food insecurity in the neighboring countries (Cameroon, Chad and Niger) has also taken toll on Nigeria’s food situation. About 3.4 million people, mainly in the states of Borno and Yobe, need food aid.