Authors : Mfon Gaul Uko; Peter Okon Eyo

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 9 - September

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5et7mczz

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/464668ha

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25sep517

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Note : Google Scholar may take 30 to 40 days to display the article.

Abstract : In the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, namely in the states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Rivers, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of climate change on food security. The study postulated that the climatic conditions of these areas had shifted throughout time, resulting in excessive heat, deforestation, erosion, flooding, desertification, increasing rainfall and temperature patterns, and other forms of environmental degradation. Given reports from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) that conflict, national economies, and climate change are the primary causes of food insecurity globally, an examination of how changing climatic conditions affect food security in these three states in the nation's South-South geopolitical zone was required. Using the descriptive survey method, 1,050 research participants were chosen from communities in each of the senatorial districts of the three states to collect views on food security and climate change. The opinions gathered for this study were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-Ver. 25.0). According to the study's findings, among other things, the effects of climate change on food security have manifested as reduced availability, accessibility, and the inability to buy food in the quantities that people used to be able to. This bolsters the argument that climate change has made food insecurity worse in these three South-South geopolitical zone states of Nigeria. Based on these findings, it was recommended that regulations be implemented to reduce activities like deforestation, gas flaring, and over-exploitation of natural resources while promoting conservative habits like recycling and other variables that contribute to climate change.

Keywords : Accessibility, Affordability, Availability, Climate Change, Food.

References :

1. Adger, W. N. (2006). Vulnerability. Global Environmental Change, 16(3), 268-281.
2. Adishi, E. & Oluka, N. L. (2018). Climate change, insecurity and conflict: issues and probable roadmap for achieving sustainable development goals in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research, 4 (8), 12-20.
3. Ajetomobi, J. (2016). Effects of weather extremes on crop yields in Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 16, 11168-11184.
4. Akpandem, E. E., Ayamba, I. T., Echadu, M. O. & Akpandem, E. E. (2025). From grazing to grieving: How herders-farmers clashes fuel food insecurity in South-East Nigeria. International Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies (IJPCS), 10(1), 107-117.
5. Amouzou, K. A., Lamers, J. P., Naab, J. B., Borgemeister, C., Vlek, P. L. & Becker, M. (2019). Climate change impact on water-and nitrogen-use efficiencies and yields of maize and sorghum in the northern Benin dry savanna, West Africa. Field Crops Resources, 235, 104-117.
6. Anyika, V. O. (2020). Insurgency, violent extremism and development in the lake Chad region, 1960-2015. MA Dissertation submitted to the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
7. Atiah, W. A., Amekudzi, L. K., Akum, R. A., Quansah, E., Antwi-Agyei, P. & Danuor, S. K. (2022). Climate variability and impacts on maize (Zea mays) yield in Ghana, West Africa. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 148, 185-198.
8. Ayamba, I. A. (2023). Agricultural development programmes and food security in Nigeria’s fourth republic: A study of Cross River State rice production programme. An unpublished PhD thesis submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Uyo, Uyo-Nigeria.
9. Ayinde, A. S., Folorunsho, R. & Oluwaseun A. E. (2020). Sea surface temperature trends and its relationship with precipitation in the Western and Central Equatorial Africa. Climate Change, 6 (21), 36-51.
10. Ayinde, O. E., Muchie, M. & Olatunji, G. B. (2011). Effect of climate change on agricultural productivity in Nigeria: a co-integration model approach. Journal of Human Ecology, 35 (3), 189-194.
11. Ayo, J. A., Omosebi, M. O. & Sulieman, A. (2014). Effect of climate change on food security in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Science, Computer Science and Engineering and Technology, 3 (4), 1763-1778.
12. Babbie, E. (2007). The practice of social research. 11th Edition. Thompson Wadsworth.
13. Berhanu, M. & Wolde, A. O. (2019). Review on climate change impacts and its adaptation strategies on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural Social Economic Journal, 19 (3), 145-154.
14. Chikoore, H. & Jury, M. R. (2021). South African drought, deconstructed. Weather Climate Extremes, 33, 100334.
15. Cuthbert, M. O., Taylor, R. G., Favreau, G., Todd, M. C., Shamsudduha, M., Villholth, K. G., Macdonald, A. M., Scanlon, B. R., Kotchoni, D.V. & Vouillamoz, J. M. (2019). Observed controls on resilience of groundwater to climate variability in sub-Saharan Africa. Nature, 572, 230-234.
16. Dana, D. (2008). Climate: causes and effects of climate change. Chelsea House Publishers.
17. Ethan, S. (2015). Impact of climate change on agriculture and food security in Nigeria: challenges and adaptation. Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicinal Plant (GARJMP), 3 (1), 1-9.
18. Fasona, M. J. & Omojola, A. S. (2005). Climate change, human security and communal clashes in Nigeria. A paper presented at an International Workshop, Human Security and Climate Change, held at Holmen Fjord Hotel, Asker, near Oslo, 21-23 June 2005.
19. Ficchi, A., Cloke, H., Neves, C., Woolnough, S., de Perez, E.C., Zsoter, E., Pinto, I., Meque, A. & Stephens, E. (2021). Beyond El Nino: unsung climate modes drive African floods. Weather Climate Extremes, 33, 100345.
20. Food & Agricultural Organisation-FAO (2019). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2018. Building climate resilience for food security and nutrition. Food and Agricultural Organisation Publications.
21. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). (2023). The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2023. FAO.
22. Gerardeaux, E., Loison, R., Palai, O. & Sultan, B. (2018). Adaptation strategies to climate change using cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) ideotypes in rainfed tropical cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. A modeling approach. Field Crops Research, 226, 38-47.
23. Hadebe, S., Modi, A. & Mabhaudhi, T., 2017. Drought tolerance and water use of cereal crops: a focus on sorghum as a food security crop in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 203, 177-191.
24. Idumah, F. O., Mangodo, C., Ighadaro, U. B. & Owombo, P. T. (2016). Climate change and food production in Nigeria: implication for food security in Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Science, 8 (2), 74-83.
25. Ikem, T. U. (2018). Prospects of food self-reliance in Nigeria. Farming and Rural System Economics, 56 (1), 112-120.
26. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007) Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Cambridge University Press.
27. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2021). Climate change 2021: The physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the sixth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. Doi:10.1017/9781009157896.
28. Kralovec, S. (2020). Food insecurity in Nigeria: an analysis of the impact of climate change, economic development, and conflict on food security. MA Thesis submitted to the Department of Global Political Studies, Malmo University.
29. Krejcie, R. V. & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining Sample Size for Research Activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610.
30. Muringai, R. T., Naidoo, D., Mafongoya, P. & Lottering, S. (2020). The impacts of climate change on the livelihood and food security of Small-Scale fishers in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 55 (2), 298-313.
31. Nyamekye, A. B., Nyadzi, E., Dewulf, A., Werners, S., van Slobbe, E., Biesbroek, R.G., Termeer, C. J. & Ludwig, F. (2021). Forecast probability, lead time and farmer decision-making in rice farming systems in Northern Ghana. Climate Risk Management, 31, 100258.
32. Ogbo, A., Ebele, N. & Ukpere, W. (2019). Risk management and challenges of climate change in Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 41 (3), 221-235.
33. Ogbuchi, T. C. (2020). Quantitative indicators of production of food crops. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 32 (1), 79-88.
34. Ojuederie, O. B. & Ogunsola, K. E. (2017). Impact of climate change on food security and its mitigation using modern biotechnology. Journal of Advances in Biotechnology and Microbiology, 3 (1), 1-8.
35. Oluwaranti, A., Edema, R., Ajayi, S., Atkinson, C., Asea, G. & Kwemoi, D. (2020). Climate Variability and Its Impacts on the Performance of Elite Uganda Maize Parental Lines. Research, Leadership, Transformation: Handbook of Climate Change Management, 1-18.
36. Onuoha, F. C. & Ezirim, G. E. (2010). Climate change and national security: exploring the conceptual and empirical connections in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 12(4), 255-269.
37. Oyinloye, O. D., Akinola, O. O., Akande, Y. O., Akinyele, A. A. & Mosimabale, M. M. (2018). Food insecurity in Africa. Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 23(9), 68-75.
38. Ribot, J. C. (2010). Vulnerability before adaptation: Toward transformative climate action. Global Environmental Change, 21(4), 1160-1162.
39. Sarr, M., Ayele, M. B., Kimani, M. E. & Ruhinduka, R. (2021). Who benefits from climate-friendly agriculture? The marginal returns to a rainfed system of rice intensification in Tanzania. World Development, 138, 105160.
40. Sowunmi, F. A. & Akintola, J. O. (2010). Effect of Climatic Variability on Maize Production in Nigeria. Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2(1), 19-30.
41. Taub, D. R., Miller, B. & Allen, H. (2018). Effects of elevated CO2 on the protein concentration of food crops: a meta-analysis. Global Change Biology, 14 (3), 565-575.
42. Thoithi, W., Blamey, R. C. & Reason, C. J. (2021). Dry spells, wet days, and their trends across Southern Africa during the summer rainy season. Geophysical Research Letters, 48, e2020GL091041.  
43. Tirado, M.C., Clarke, R., Jaykusc, L.A., McQuatters-Gollopd, A. & Frank, J. M. (2010). Climate change and food safety: a review. Food Research International, 43 (7), 1745-1765.
44. Ufot, E. O. (2019). Food security, poverty and investment dimensions. Perspectives on Food Security, 46 (2), 32-38.
45. Ughaelu, C. M. (2017). Contemporary environmental issues respect to food production in Nigeria. Journal of Environmental Management, 41 (2), 108-117.
46. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2002). Report of the Conference of the Parties on Its Seventh Session Held at Marrakesh from 29 October to 10 November, 2001. United Nations Publications
47. Uwazie, U. I. (2020). Consumption of different forms of fish in Abakaliki metropolis of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 20 (2), 11187-11195.
48. Wainwright, C. M., Black, E. & Allan, R. P. (2021a). Future changes in wet and dry season characteristics in CMIP5 and CMIP6 simulations. Journal of Hydrometeorol, 22, 2339-2357.
49. Wainwright, C. M., Finney, D. L., Kilavi, M., Black, E. & Marsham, J. H. (2021b). Extreme rainfall in East Africa, October 2019-January 2020 and context under future climate change. Weather, 76, 26-31.
50. World Bank Group (2016). North East Nigeria recovery and peace-building assessment: component report. World Bank Publication.
51. Wossen, T., Berger, T., Haile, M.G. & Troost, C. (2018). Impacts of climate variability and food price volatility on household income and food security of farm households in east and west Africa. Agricultural Systems, 163, 7-15.
52. Zwedie, A. (2014). Impact of climate change on food security: a literature review in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Earth Science and Climate Change, 5 (8), 225.