By Stephen Simon
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that northern Nigeria is facing its worst hunger crisis in nearly a decade, with more than 17 million people projected to experience acute food insecurity during the current lean season unless urgent humanitarian assistance is provided.
The UN agency said the worsening situation has been driven by a combination of prolonged armed conflict, economic hardship, climate-related shocks, rising food prices and widespread displacement, all of which have severely undermined livelihoods across several states in the region. It noted that millions of vulnerable households are struggling to access sufficient food as the lean season reaches its peak.
According to the WFP, it requires about 89 million dollars over the next six months to sustain emergency food assistance and nutrition programmes for the most vulnerable populations. The agency warned that without immediate funding, lifesaving interventions could be significantly scaled back, leaving millions at greater risk of hunger and malnutrition.
The organisation said children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and internally displaced persons remain among those most at risk. It added that continued insecurity in parts of the North-East and North-West has disrupted farming activities, restricted access to markets and complicated the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities.
The WFP urged the international community, development partners and donors to step up support for Nigeria’s humanitarian response, stressing that early intervention would help prevent the food crisis from deteriorating further. It also called for sustained investments in agriculture, resilience-building and social protection programmes to address the underlying causes of food insecurity.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that the combined effects of conflict, inflation, flooding and climate change continue to threaten food production across Nigeria. Analysts say the rising cost of staple foods and declining household purchasing power have further compounded the hardship faced by millions of families.
The latest warning comes as governments and humanitarian organisations intensify efforts to provide relief to affected communities while seeking long-term solutions to improve food security and restore livelihoods across northern Nigeria. The WFP said prompt financial support would be critical to preventing an even deeper humanitarian crisis in the months ahead.
