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The World Bank has warned that the global food system remains vulnerable despite adequate food supplies, citing rising fertiliser costs, geopolitical tensions and increasing climate risks as major threats to food security and poverty reduction.
In its June 2026 Food & Nutrition Security Update, the institution said global food supplies remain generally sufficient, but higher production costs and supply chain disruptions continue to keep food prices under pressure, while production of major cereal crops is expected to decline from the record levels recorded in 2025.
According to the report, the international fertiliser market remains one of the biggesting the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025
Although prices have moderated slightly in recent weeks, the World Bank noted that many farmers had already reduced fertiliser use earlier in the planting season due to high costs, raising concerns over lower harvests in the coming months.
The report also highlighted climate change as a growing threat to global agricultural production, particularly the increasing likelihood of an El Niño weather event.
According to the World Bank, there is a 61 to 87 per cent probability that El Niño will emerge by mid-2026 and continue into 2027.
If this occurs, rice production could decline by between 20 and 50 per cent in affected regions, with South Asia, Southern Africa and parts of East Asia expected to face the greatest impact, further worsening food insecurity in vulnerable countries.
The report also showed that food inflation remains elevated across many economies, with low-income countries experiencing the sharpest pressures.
Between April and May 2026, the proportion of low-income countries recording food inflation above five per cent increased from 40 per cent to 45 per cent, indicating worsening affordability challenges for millions of households.
The humanitarian impact remains most severe in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions.
In East Africa alone, an estimated 44 million to 47 million people require urgent food assistance, with famine already confirmed in parts of Sudan and famine risks remaining high in Somalia.
The World Bank also noted that parts of West Africa and Latin America continue to experience localised food crises driven by economic, climatic and security challenges.
The institution warned that the combined effects of geopolitical instability, climate risks and rising agricultural input costs could reverse years of progress in reducing poverty and improving food security, particularly in low-income and fragile countries.
It projected that global fertiliser prices could rise by as much as 38 per cent in 2026, further increasing production costs for farmers and putting additional pressure on food prices.
The World Bank called for stronger international cooperation, including targeted support for vulnerable communities, improved early warning systems for droughts and climate shocks, and contingency measures to prevent localised food shortages from escalating into broader humanitarian crises.
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Economy
NWDC Unveils Plans to Support 30,000 Farmers, Train 10,000 Youths Across North West
The North West Development Commission (NWDC) has unveiled plans to support more than 30,000 farmers and train 10,000 youths across the seven North West states as part of a broader regional development programme scheduled to commence in the second half of 2026.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Prof. Shehu Ma’aji, disclosed this while presenting the agency’s mid-year performance report to the Senate Committee on the North West Development Commission.
He said the commission has moved from institutional establishment to operational readiness, recording progress in governance, procurement planning, strategic partnerships and project development.
According to Ma’aji, priority projects identified in consultation with state governments include the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres and secondary schools, provision of clean water through motorised and solar-powered boreholes, resettlement of internally displaced persons, youth skills development, agricultural support and security interventions.
A major agricultural intervention will see free fertiliser distributed to 30,000 farming households during the 2026 wet season to improve food production and rural livelihoods.
The commission will also implement a Youth Skills Acquisition Programme targeting 10,000 beneficiaries, who will receive technical, vocational and digital skills training at centres located in Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto. An online portal has already been created for enrolment and verification.
Ma’aji said the commission is also engaging development partners and foreign governments to support programmes in humanitarian services, education, healthcare, digital skills and economic empowerment.
He noted that discussions are ongoing with organisations, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), UNDP, UNESCO, eHealth Africa and other partners on housing, healthcare, digital skills and regional development initiatives.
The NWDC, established under the NWDC Act 2024, received its first statutory allocation in January 2026. Between January and May, it received ₦15.17 billion, spent ₦1.2 billion and maintained a balance of ₦13.97 billion as of July 5, 2026.
Despite the progress, Ma’aji identified delayed funding releases as a major challenge, noting that although ₦145.61 billion was budgeted for the commission in 2026, actual monthly releases averaged about three per cent of the approved allocation, affecting project implementation.
He, however, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public ress the region
Economy
Dangote Refinery’s UAE Crude Purchase Is a Business Decision, Not Diplomacy ~ Experts Say
Economic experts have described the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s recent purchase of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a commercial decision driven by market realities, although they noted that the transaction could further strengthen trade relations between Nigeria and the UAE.
Their comments follow the refinery’s first-ever purchase of two cargoes of UAE crude, marking the first time the 700,000-barrels-per-day facility hasude supplies amid persistent shortages in the domestic market
The development comes months after Nigeria and the UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), under which Nigeria removed tariffs on 6,243 UAE products, while the UAE eliminated tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products to boost bilateral trade and investment.
Speaking on the development, the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Leye Kupoluyi, said the refinery’s decision reflects sound business judgment rather than political or diplomatic considerations.
According to him, businesses are expected toicing, quality and commercial
Kupoluyi explained that crude procurement depends on several factors, including the grade of crude, pricing and the range of refined products that can be produced from different crude blends.
He added that Nigeria’s crude oil industry operates within a global commercial framework involving international oil companies, making procurement decisions more complex than simply buying locally.
The LCCI president maintained that refiners should be free to purchase crude from any market, provided the transactions align with Nigeria’s national interest.
He also noted that as Nigeria’s refining capacity expands, domestic crude production alone may eventually be insufficient to meet demand, making crude imports a normal part of the industry’s operations.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said the refinery’s decision was purely commercial and reflects the realities of crude oil supply.
He explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has been unable to fully meet the refinery’s crude requirements, making alternative
According to Yusuf, local crude has accounted for only about 30 per cent of the refinery’s feedstock since operations began due to supply constraints, existing joint venture commitments and previous forward sales agreements.
He noted that if imported crude offers better commercial terms and meets quality requirements, refiners are expected to take advantage of those opportunities.
Yusuf added that while the transaction is primarily business-driven, increased trade between Nigeria and the UAE could also support stronger economic ties, particularly following the recently signed trade agreement between both countries.
He further pointed out that importing crude is standard practice in the global refining industry, with many of the world’s largest refineries sourcing crude internationally regardless of whether their home countries produce oil.
The Dangote Refinery recently secured the UAE crude cargoes following improvements in shipping conditions in the Middle East after easing geopolitical tensions.
The refinery continues totates, while also receiving between 13 and 15 cargoes of Nigerian crude each month under its supply arrangement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company
Economy
NSDC Graduates 39 Trainees, Launches Second Cohort of 41 to Build Skilled Workforce for Nigeria’s Sugar Industry
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has graduated 39 trainees under its elite residential training programme and launched a second cohort of 41 participants as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s sugar industry workforce and accelerate local sugar production.
The training programme, implemented under the National Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0, is designed to equip industry personnel with advanced technical skills to improve productivity across the sugar value chain and support Nigeria’s goal of producing two million metric tonnes of sugar locally.
Speaking at the Nigeria Sugar Institute (NSI) in Ilorin, NSDC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Kamar Bakrin, said the programme is focused on developing a highly skilled workforce capable of improving both sugarcane production and factory operations.
According to him, achieving sustainable growth in the sugar industry requires professionals with expertise in land preparation, irrigation, seed cane production, yield optimisation and factory efficiency.
“The future of the industry depends on developing personnel who can combine high-yield sugarcane production with efficient factory operations to improve productivity and long-term profitability,” he said.
The pioneer cohort underwent intensive training from June 29 to July 3, 2026, covering sugarcane biology, variety selection, water management and modern production techniques. Participants also took part in practical “Cane Clinics,” where they analysed real farm challenges and developed solutions alongside industry experts.
The newly launched second cohort of 41 trainees is scheduled to commence training on July 13, 2026.
The programme also featured visits to the National Museum and Innovation Hub in Ilorin to expose participants to innovation, collaboration and industry best practices.
Participants were drawn from key organisations across Nigeria’s sugar industry, including Dangote Adamawa Sugar Company, BUA Lafiagi Sugar Company, Sunti Golden Sugar Estate, Illaj Sugar, Legacy Sugar, Progressive Farmers’ Groups, and the NSDC.
According to the Council, the initiative is part of its broader strategy to build technical capacity, improve industry performance and create a skilled workforce capable of supporting Nigeria’s journey towards sugar self-sufficiency.
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