Nigeria’s agricultural sector has been severely impacted by climate change and growing insecurity, a new report by SBM Intelligence has revealed.

Widespread flooding has affected more than 30 states, leading to the destruction of an estimated 180,000 cultivated farmlands nationwide.

The report, published in June 2025, states that since July 2024, 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states have been inundated by floods, affecting approximately 1.2 million people.

It read, “Since July 2024, 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states have been inundated by floods, affecting approximately 1.2 million people. This widespread deluge has destroyed an estimated 180,000 cultivated farmlands nationwide.”

The floods have caused significant damage to agricultural infrastructure, further exacerbating food insecurity. The Middle Belt, known for its agricultural output, has seen widespread destruction of crops, contributing to food price inflation, which reached 35.41 per cent in January 2024.

In addition to flooding, desertification in the northern regions has worsened the crisis. The report notes that 350,000 hectares of arable land are lost each year due to desertification.

These factors, along with insecurity from farmer-herder conflicts and banditry, have disrupted farming activities and forced many farmers to abandon their land. Over 2.2 million people have been displaced by insecurity, particularly in the Northcentral and Northwest regions.

This has halted agricultural production in these areas, worsening food insecurity across the country. The report reveals that 100 million Nigerians were food-insecure by the first quarter of 2024, with 18.6 million facing acute hunger.

The report was released in the wake of the Niger flood in May 2025, which resulted in more than 200 deaths and displaced over 3,000 people.

President Bola Tinubu has pledged federal assistance and activated the National Emergency Responder Centre to oversee recovery operations. Several Nigerians have made donations to support relief efforts.