Middle East crisis drives food price surge, hunger risks in Nigeria, West Africa – WFP

The deepening Middle East crisis is worsening food price pressures and raising hunger risks across Nigeria and West Africa, as global supply chains and energy markets face renewed disruption.

The World Food Programme, WFP, said the conflict is triggering far-reaching economic shocks, pushing up the cost of food, fuel and fertiliser, with import-dependent regions among the hardest hit.

The agency warned that prolonged high energy prices linked to the crisis could push up to 45 million more people into acute hunger globally, raising the risk of record food insecurity levels.

In Nigeria, the impact is already being felt in local markets, where traders report declining purchasing power as rising transport and import costs drive up the price of basic food items.

Across West Africa, households spend a significant share of income on food, making them highly vulnerable to price shocks. The latest increases are expected to further strain low-income families.

The crisis has disrupted global shipping routes, forcing longer delivery times and raising logistics costs for essential commodities, including grains, fertiliser and fuel.

These disruptions are increasing the landed cost of imports into West Africa, feeding directly into inflation and market volatility.

Rising oil prices are also driving higher production and transportation costs across the food value chain, compounding pressure on already elevated food prices.

The World Food Programme said Africa and Asia are likely to account for the largest share of any increase in global hunger linked to the crisis, reflecting their dependence on food and energy imports.

The agency also warned that higher operational costs and funding constraints are affecting humanitarian response efforts, with limited resources forcing prioritisation even as needs grow.

For Nigeria and other countries in the region, the combined impact of higher import costs, fertiliser price increases and logistics challenges is expected to sustain pressure on food prices and food security in the near term.

The Middle East crisis, though geographically distant, is increasingly shaping economic conditions and food access across Nigeria and the wider West African region.