CO-IMPACT OF SECURITY CHALLENGES, ENERGY PRICE SHOCKS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ON NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Global food insecurity is on the increase, and factors responsible for it are dynamic and differ from country to country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of security challenges, energy price shocks, and environmental pollution (SEE) on food production, availability, affordability, stability, utilization, and on malnutrition using information from existing literature. Information relevant to the scope of this study was sourced from local Journals, African Journal Online, Science Direct etc. The sourced information deduced that the security challenges in Nigeria had affected (though still affecting) food availability, affordability, and accessibility. While energy price shocks affects negatively, financial access to food especially among the low and middle income households in Nigeria. Environmental pollution on the other hand impairs soil fertility and degradation, aquatic animal’s extinction, and food safety. The impacts of SEE on food security are enormous and would in no doubt breed more malnutrition especially among children. Also, local, regional, and national security stability and development may be affected. Therefore, it is imperative that the government and other relevant stakeholders find information in this study impactful and useful, and enable them formulate, propagate, and put to action policies and programs that could in short time thwarts the menaces associated with SEE for a better food secured nation.