Opposition parties politicised the October 2026 Cadre Harmonisé food security assessment, according to Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
Kyari stated on Monday that the report is being utilised for political purposes and that it is a disservice to the Nigerian people who are actually suffering. “The Cadre Harmonisé is a technical early-warning system developed by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, CILSS, in collaboration with partners such as the FAO, WFP, UNICEF, and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC,” he explained.
In comparison to the forecast of 34.8 million for 2026, he went on to say, this number is actually an improvement.
“The government will continue to use findings from the Cadre Harmonisé to guide interventions, support farmers and ensure access to safe, nutritious and affordable food for Nigerians,” Kyari assured, while acknowledging that food insecurity remains a serious national challenge. However, he added that progress in addressing the issue will not be immediate.