FAO/GIEWS: Africa Report No.2 - August 2002 p.48
| Area: | 923 770 sq km |
| Climate: | Mostly tropical wet-dry, south-west tropical wet, extreme north semi-arid |
| Population: | 116.8 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$260 (2000) |
| Specific characteristics of the country: | Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country |
| Logistics: | Ports adequate, roads inadequate during rainy season |
| Major foodcrops: | Roots and tubers, coarse grains, rice |
| Marketing year: | January/December; Lean season: April-May |
| Share of cereals in total calorie intake: | 43 percent |
First rains in the south in late February/early March permitted land preparation and planting of the first maize crop. Rains reached northern areas in late April/early May where they permitted planting of coarse grains. However, the weather remained mostly dry until early July in the extreme north-east. The overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Some population groups, however, remain vulnerable following communal conflicts notably in the states of Benue, Nasarawa and Taraba. From April to June, more than 85 000 IDPs have been resettled in their home villages in the central region.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | 49 | 3 301 | 1 8797 | 22 147 |
| Previous five years average imports | 1 604 | 793 | 87 | 2 484 |
| 2002 Domestic Availability | 150 | 2 200 | 19 614 | 21 964 |
| 2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) | 50 | 3 500 | 19 614 | 23 164 |
| 2001 Production (rice in milled terms) | 50 | 2 100 | 19 614 | 21 764 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 100 | 100 | - | 200 |
| 2002 Utilization | 1 850 | 3 200 | 1 9684 | 24 734 |
| Food use | 1 798 | 2 780 | 15 083 | 19 661 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | - | - |
| Non-food use | 52 | 420 | 3 921 | 4 393 |
| Exports or re-exports | - | - | 180 | 180 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | 500 | 500 |
| 2002 Import Requirement | 1 700 | 1 000 | 70 | 2 770 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 1 700 | 1 000 | 70 | 2 770 |
| Food aid needs | - | - | - | - |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | - | - | - | - |
| of which: delivered | - | - | - | - |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) | 15 | 24 | 129 | 168 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2001 Production as % of average: | 105 | |||
| 2002 Import requirement as % of average: | 112 |