{"references": ["Denton, John A. (1990). Society and the official world: a reintroduction\nto sociology. Dix Hills, N.Y: General Hall. p.17. ISBN 0-930390-94-6", "Ogunfowoke, A., (2012) Combating Food Insecurity in Nigeria.\nRetrieved from: http://www.punchng.com/opinion/combating-foodinsecurity-\nin-nigeria/", "United Nations, (2005), Millennium Development Goals, United Nations\nDepartment of Public Information", "Jerome. A., (2012) \"Nigeria's Food Security Programs: Implications for\nMDG's Goal of Extreme Hunger Eradication\". International Journal of\nBusiness and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 9;", "Nwajiuba, C. (2012) Nigeria's Agricultural and Food Security\nChallenges Retrieved from: http://ng.boell.org/downloads/Agriculture_-\n_Green_Deal_Nigeria_study.pdf", "Ajayeoba. A., (2010) \"Concerning Food Security in Nigeria\". West\nAfrica Insights Retrieved from:\nhttp://westafricainsight.org/articles/PDF/81", "Murdock, H., (2012) Nigeria tries to curb appetite for imported food.\nRetrieved from: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/\nafrica/nigeria/120423/decrease-food-imports-increase-food-security", "Punch, (2012) Alarming food import bill. Retrieved from:\nhttp://www.punchng.com/editorial/alarming-food-import-bill/", "All Africa (2013) Nigeria's Outrageous Food Import Bill. Retrieved\nFrom: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311240262.html\n[10] MCH data report (2012) Food Insecurity and Hunger. Retrieved from:\nhttp://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/160-\n015_MCHDataReportFoodInsecHunger.pdf\n[11] Attah. E., (2012) \"Food Security in Nigeria: The Role of Peasant\nFarmers in Nigeria\". African Research Review. An International\nMultidisciplinary Journal, Ethiopia Vol. 6 (4), Serial No.27, Pp.173-190\n[12] Ojo, E. and Adebayo, P., (2012) \"Food Security in Nigeria: An\nOverview\". European Journal of Sustainable Development (2012), 1, 2,\n199-222\n[13] Adebayo, A. A., (2010) Food Security Status in Nigeria: Pre and Post\nEconomic Deregulation Review. Retrieved from: http://www.icidr.org/\nijedri_vol1no1_april2010/Food%20Security%20Status%20in%20Nigeri\na-Pre%20and%20Post%20Economic%20Deregulation%20Review.pdf\n[14] Smith, D.W. (1998), \"Urban Food Systems and the Poor in Developing\nCountries\", Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, New\nSeries, Vol. 23, No. 2,published by Blackwell publishing on behalf of\nthe The Royal Geographical Society. United Nations Development\nProgramme (UNDP) (1994), Human Development Report 1994, New\nYork: Oxford University Press.\n[15] Okuneye, P., (2002) \"Rising Cost of Food Prices and Food Insecurity I n\nNigeria and Its Implication for Poverty Reduction\". CBN Economic &\nFinancial Review, vol. 39 no. 4\n[16] Jayne, T.S., Tschirley, D.L., Staatz, J. M., Scaffer, J.D., Weber, M.T.,\nChisvo, M., and Mukumbu, M. (1994), Market Oriented Strategies to\nImprove Household Access to Food \u2013Experience from Sub-Saharan\nAfrica, MSU International Development Paper No. 15, Michigan State\nUniversity.\n[17] FAO, (1996) \"Socio-Political and Economic Environment for Food\nSecurity\". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,\nWorld Food Summit, Vol. 1, Sec. 1.4\n[18] Nord, M., Jemison K. & Bickel, G.(1999) Prevalence of food insecurity\nand hunger, by state 1996-1998, Food Assistance and nutrition Research\nReport No. 2 Food and Rural Economics Division, Economic Research\nServices, United States Department of Agriculture\n[19] Bickel. G et al. (2000) Guide to measuring household food security.\nUSDA, Food and Nutrition Service. Retrieved from:\nhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fsec/files/fsguide.pdf.\n[20] Hall. B., (2004) Understanding food security data and methodology\nHunger Issue Brief, Food security Institute, Center on Hunger and\nPoverty\n[21] Omotesho, O. A., Adewumi, M. O., Muhammad-Lawal, A. and Ayinde\nO. E., (2006) \"Determinants of Food Security among The Rural Farming\nHouseholds in Kwara State, Nigeria\". African Journal of General\nAgriculture Vol. 2, No. 1\n[22] World Bank, (1991) \"Strategy for Food and Nutrition Security\". World\nBank Report N0. 9040. Washington D.C.\n[23] Akinyele. I., (2009) Ensuring Food and Nutrition Security in Rural\nNigeria: An Assessment of the Challenges, Information Needs, and\nAnalytical Capacity. Nigeria Strategy Support Program (NSSP)\nBackground Paper No. NSSP 007\n[24] Rainer Gross, Hans Schoeneberger, Hans Pfeifer, Hans-Joachim A.\nPreuss (2000) The Four Dimensions of Food and Nutrition Security:\nDefinitions and Concepts. Retrieved from: http://www.foodsec.org/\nDL/course/shortcourseFA/en/pdf/P-01_RG_Concept.pdf\n[25] Stamoulis, K.G., P. Pingali and Shetty, P. (2004), \" Emerging\nChallenges for Food and Nutrition Policy in Developing Countries\"\nSpecial Issues on \" Globalization Of Food Systems: Impact on Food\nSecurity and Nutrition\" electronic Journal of Agricultural and\nDevelopment Economics, eJADE 1(2): 154-167. Retrieved from:\nftp://193.43.36.93/docrep../fao/007/ae224e/ae224e00.pdf\n[26] Omotesho, O. A., Joseph, J. K., Apata, A. and Muhammad-Lawal, A.,\n(2002) Food Security, Agricultural Production and Cooperatives In\nNigeria pg 123-144. Retrieved from: http://unilorin.edu.ng/publications/\nomoteshooa/Food%20Security%20Agricultural%20Production%20and\n%20Cooperatives%20in%20Ni.pdf\n[27] Premium Times, (2013) 13 million Nigerians suffer from hunger-\nAgriculture Minister. Retrieved from: http://premiumtimesng.com/\nnews/140098-13-million-nigerians-suffer-from-hunger-agricultureminister.\nhtml\n[28] Philips, D., Nkonya E., Pender J., Wale O., and O. Ayoola (2008),\n\"Contract to Increasing Agricultural Productivity in Nigeria\"\nInternational Food Policies. Retrieved from:\nhttp://bankofagricultureng.com/Documents/YZ56FG72CD68Constraints\n%20to%20Increasing%20Agricultural%20Productivity%20in%20Nigeri\na.pdf\n[29] Relief Web, (2013) Nigeria Food Security Update March 2013.\nRetrieved from: http://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-food-securityupdate-\nmarch-2013\n[30] Iwuchukwu. J & Igboeke. E., (2012) Lessons from Agricultural Policies\nand Programmes in Nigeria. http://www.slideshare.net/\nAlexanderDecker/lessons-from-agricultural-policies-and-programmesin-\nnigeria#\n[31] Amalu, U.C., (1998) Agricultural Research and Extension Delivery\nSystems in sub-Sharan Africa: Calabar .University of Calabar Press\n[32] Orefi. A., (2012) \"Food Security in Nigeria and South Africa: Policies\nand Challenges\". J Hum Ecol, 38(1): 31-35\n[33] IFAD (2014) Roots and Tuber Expansion Program (closed). Retrieved\nfrom: http://www.fidafrique.net/rubrique174.html\n[34] Hassan,T (2010) FG Introduces Root And Tuber Expansion Programme\nII Retrieved from: http://www.nigerianbestforum.com/blog/fgintroduces-\nroot-and-tuber-expansion-programme-ii/\n[35] Ministry of Agriculture (2014) Third National Fadama Development\nProject http://www.fadama.net/HTML/index.php\n[36] FADAMA III (2014) Third Fadama National Development Project\nhttp://www.fadama.net/HTML/index.php\n[37] IFAD AFRICA (2014) Community-based Agriculture and Rural\nDevelopment Programme. Retrieved from: http://www.fidafrique.net/\nrubrique.php3?id_rubrique=173\n[38] FMARD (2013) Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Agenda. Mid\nTerm Review. Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/\nTransformNG/federal-ministry-of-agriculture#\n[39] ADB (2014) Nigeria Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support\nProgramme. Retrieved from http://www.afdb.org/projects-andoperations/\nproject-portfolio/project/p-ng-aab-003/\n[40] FRN (2013) Agricultural transformation's intervention in five value\nchains raises net earnings for rural farmers \u2013 Adesina, Agric Minister.\nRetrieved from: http://www.nigeria.gov.ng/2012-10-29-11-09-25/news/\n393-agricultural-transformation-s-intervention-in-five-value-chainsraises-\nnet-earnings-for-rural-farmers-adesina-agric-miniister [41] Oni, K.C. (2008) Transforming Agricultural Potentials to Wealth in\nNorthern Nigeria. Invited Paper Presented at the Northern Nigerian\nEconomic and Investment Summit (NEIS), Abuja, October, 2008.\n[42] Tollens, F., (2000) \"Food Security: Incidence and Causes of Food\nInsecurity among Vulnerable Groups and Coping Strategies\", In, CTA\n(2000) Food Insecurity in ACP Countries, Proceedings of a CTA\nSeminar, pp 27 -50."]}

As a basic physiology need, threat to sufficient food production is threat to human survival. Food security has been an issue that has gained global concern. This paper looks at the food security in Nigeria by assessing the availability of food and accessibility of the available food. The paper employed multiple linear regression technique and graphic trends of growth rates of relevant variables to show the situation of food security in Nigeria. Results of the tests revealed that population growth rate was higher than the growth rate of food availability in Nigeria for the earlier period of the study. Commercial bank credit to agricultural sector, foreign exchange utilization for food and the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) contributed significantly to food availability in Nigeria. Food prices grew at a faster rate than the average income level, making it difficult to access sufficient food. It implies that prior to the year 2012; there was insufficient food to feed the Nigerian populace. However, continued credit to the food and agricultural sector will ensure sustained and sufficient production of food in Nigeria. Microfinance banks should make sufficient credit available to smallholder farmer. Government should further control and subsidize the rising price of food to make it more accessible by the people.