A recent report by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has revealed that many African nations remain heavily reliant on food imports despite vast fertile lands. Currently, Africa collectively spends approximately $50 billion annually on food imports, a figure projected to reach $110 billion by 2025 without substantial interventions.
The report underscores the continent’s paradox: abundant natural resources and arable land coexist with increasing food insecurity and undernourishment. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa also forecasts a sharp rise in food imports, climbing from $15 billion in 2018 to $110 billion by 2025.
Afreximbank emphasized the alarming dependence on external food sources, stressing the risks for nations with the potential to cultivate sufficient food for themselves and contribute to global supply. “If left unchecked, this dependency will strain African economies and heighten their vulnerability to external shocks,” the report warned.
External Shocks and Geopolitical Impacts
The report highlighted the effects of external factors such as export bans, price fluctuations, and geopolitical conflicts on Africa’s food supply. For example, the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has disrupted Africa’s access to Ukrainian durum wheat, causing shortages, price surges, and worsening food insecurity across the continent.
Rising Hunger and Malnutrition
The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s data paints a dire picture: 282 million people in Africa, about 20% of the population, are undernourished—a rise of 57 million since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In 2023, an estimated 846.6 million Africans faced moderate or severe food insecurity, with 315.5 million experiencing severe levels. Nearly 30% of African children are stunted due to inadequate nutrition, and the continent accounts for more than 80% of the global population unable to afford a healthy diet.
Nigeria, for instance, has an alarming hunger rate of 28.8%, according to the 2024 Global Hunger Trend report. The data shows that 18% of Nigerian children are malnourished, 31.5% are stunted, 6.5% are wasted, and 10.7% die before the age of five due to hunger-related issues.
A Call for Action
Afreximbank stressed the urgency of addressing Africa’s food security challenges by reducing reliance on imports and leveraging the continent’s agricultural potential. “Achieving food security and self-sufficiency in Africa requires deliberate strategies that address key economic and social factors,” the report concluded.
