Nigeria loses 38 million tonnes of food a year, highest figure in Africa – EU raises alarm

The EU links the crisis to food insecurity and emissions

… Urges investments in storage and infrastructure

The European Union (EU) has expressed serious concern over the worsening food waste crisis in Nigeria, revealing that the country loses around 38 million tonnes of food every year, placing it first among African nations that waste food.

The warning was issued in Abuja during the commemoration of the International Zero Waste Day 2026, with the theme “Food Waste Reduction – Minimization and Enhancement”.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, described the situation as alarming, stressing that urgent and coordinated interventions are needed to reverse the trend.

Vergos noted that the scale of food waste in Nigeria undermines food security, worsens economic losses and significantly contributes to environmental degradation. He called for greater collaboration between government agencies, private sector operators and citizens across the entire food value chain to curb the menace.

According to him, reducing food waste is crucial to achieving sustainable consumption and production patterns in line with global development goals.

It also revealed that, globally, almost a billion tonnes of food were wasted in 2022 alone, or almost a fifth of all food available to consumers.

He warned that such waste amounts to a “squandering of precious resources” and a missed opportunity to fight hunger.

Vergos also highlighted the environmental implications, pointing out that food loss and waste contribute up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 40% of methane emissions worldwide, making the crisis a major driver of climate change.

While acknowledging ongoing reforms in Nigeria, including the Circular Economy Roadmap, the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Circular Economy Committee and the push for national regulation on plastic waste management, he described these efforts as “structural changes” aimed at addressing systemic challenges.

However, he urged the country to go further by investing in rural infrastructure such as roads, storage facilities and cold chain systems to reduce post-harvest losses.

Vergos has also supported the promotion of agricultural transformation, encouraging the processing of raw produce into value-added products such as tomato paste and cassava flour, while strengthening links between smallholder farmers and processors.

Furthermore, he called for the integration of zero waste education into school curricula starting from the primary level to build a culture of sustainability among future generations.

Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to tackling food waste as part of efforts to safeguard the environment and promote public health.

Lawal said food waste poses a major threat to economic growth, environmental sustainability and food security, stressing that every discarded meal represents a waste of water, energy, labor and capital.

He revealed that the ministry, in its national budget for 2026, has developed projects aimed at eliminating food waste in major markets across the country, with a focus on reducing post-harvest losses.

According to him, tackling food waste will not only reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, but will also improve resource efficiency and encourage responsible consumption in households and businesses.

Likewise, the Director and Representative of the Sub-Regional Office of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in

Nigeria, Amb. Philbert Johnson, described food as a critical resource that should never be wasted, especially in a country struggling with food insecurity and malnutrition.
Johnson emphasized that food is not just a commodity, but a foundation of economic growth, public health and national stability.

“When food systems work efficiently, they generate income, increase resilience and improve well-being. When they fail, the consequences are felt across the economy, the environment and society,” he said.

He reiterated UNIDO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in building resilient, inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial systems capable of reducing food waste and strengthening food security.

The EU, in collaboration with the Nigerian Government and UNIDO, further underlined the urgent need for immediate and coordinated measures to tackle food waste, underlining that inefficiencies in food systems lead to the loss of precious resources such as water, energy and labour, while exacerbating climate change.

Nigeria’s food waste crisis continues to raise concern amid rising levels of hunger and inflationary pressures on food, with experts warning that without urgent reforms, the country risks worsening food insecurity and economic strain.

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