POLITICS OF FOOD SECURITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Food security in Nigeria has become a precarious political and social issue,interwoven with socioeconomic inequalities and political decisions. The politics of foodsecurity in Nigeria directly impacts social change, influencing everything from rurallivelihoods to national stability. This paper explores the complicated relationship betweenfood security and social change, focusing on how political influences shape foodaccessibility, distribution, and consumption patterns. With over 70% of the population livingin food insecurity, the role of political instability, government policies, and economicchallenges cannot be overlooked. Additionally, malnutrition remains prevalent, particularly invulnerable groups such as children and internally displaced persons (IDPs), exacerbated byinefficient governance and inadequate agricultural policies. The paper examines how politicalelites use food security as a tool for political leverage, resulting in a fragmented approach toaddressing the underlying causes of hunger. The paper applies theoretical lenses such asPolitical Economy and Social Change Theory to explore these dynamics in detail. Using ahistorical and contemporary analysis of Nigerian agriculture, government policy, andinternational relations, this paper discusses the need for sustainable policies that bridge thegap between food production, distribution, and consumption, alongside the role ofgovernment agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international bodies inmitigating this crisis. The study concludes that unless food security is treated as a nationalpriority, social inequalities and poverty will continue to rise, preventing the achievement ofsocial change in Nigeria.