Research insight on the impact of climate change on household food security in Nigeria’s semi-arid zones

Kicking off the IITA Knowledge Café series for 2025, Shakiru Quadri, the IITA Technical Advisor for the CGIAR Fragility, Conflict and Migration (FCM) Initiative, delivered an insightful presentation on his research work. The discussion, which was held on 22 January and coordinated by IITA Director for Sahel Africa Hub Tahirou Abdoulaye, focused on the impact of climate change on household food security in the semi-arid regions of Nigeria.

Quadri mentioned that the study was inspired by his research team’s experience working in fragile and conflict-affected areas of Nigeria. These regions are uniquely vulnerable to climate change due to their reliance on natural systems and resources critical for survival in dryland environments. He added that climate change has become a pressing issue globally, significantly affecting agriculture and food security. This reality spurred researchers to investigate the implications for communities in northern Nigeria.

Conducted in the semi-arid eco-climatic zone, where recurrent droughts and conflicts are common, the study analyzed data from 626 respondents across three states: Borno, Katsina, and Sokoto. Using secondary data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) alongside cross-sectional data, the team employed multi-stage sampling techniques and specified several linear and non-linear models to analyze the trends.

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