Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation with an ongoing food insecurity challenge. Reports say Nigeria loses about 42% of its fruits and vegetables before they reach consumers. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigerians trash at least 189 kg of food per citizen, the highest in Africa. Food waste, spoilage, and loss account for about 40% of all food in Nigeria.
Food waste represents a massive loss in resources like water, labour, and energy invested in food production. Experts say wasted food contributes to methane emissions, accelerating climate change. With many Nigerians living in extreme poverty (about 88.4 million out of 210 million people), reducing food waste can help improve food access.
Food waste in Nigeria stems from various factors across the food supply chain. For starters, there are many post-harvest losses owing to limited storage facilities and poor transportation infrastructure that lead to significant losses of perishable foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Also, there are challenges in processing, packaging, and distribution that contribute to waste. Add to these metrics consumer behaviour such as overbuying, poor meal planning, or lack of awareness about food management can lead to waste at the household level.
In some cases, food abundance might lead to waste, especially during celebrations or gatherings. Inadequate roads, storage (like refrigeration), and processing facilities increase losses.Financial constraints or lack of investment in food preservation technologies. Limited awareness about the impacts of food waste or strategies to minimize it.
Food waste translates to lost resources and money. For instance, wasted food could have fed those in need. Also, decomposing food can contribute to greenhouse gases.
Addressing these factors through better infrastructure, education, and practices can help reduce food waste in Nigeria.
