Amid worsening hunger in North-East Nigeria, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that over one million people risk losing access to life-saving food and nutrition support within weeks unless urgent funding is secured.
For the first time in Nigeria, WFP said its assistance could be limited to just 72,000 people if new funding is not received immediately. The agency has been responding to hunger in the region since 2015, providing food and support to help communities withstand crises and reduce long-term aid dependency.
Nigeria is currently facing one of its most severe hunger crises in recent memory. The latest Cadre Harmonisé report projects that nearly 35 million people will experience acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season. In Borno State alone, around 15,000 people are at risk of catastrophic hunger, one step away from famine, the highest level recorded in a decade.
David Stevenson, WFP’s Nigeria Country Director, said: “Now is not the time to stop food assistance. Halting aid will have catastrophic humanitarian, security, and economic consequences for the most vulnerable, many of whom have already been forced to flee their homes”.
Renewed violence in the region has displaced 3.5 million people in the past four months, destroyed food reserves, and worsened hunger. Stevenson warned that without continued support, displaced families could be forced to migrate or join insurgent groups to survive.
The WFP says USD129 million is urgently required to sustain operations in North-East Nigeria over the next six months. Without this funding, the agency faces the risk of a full operational shutdown, leaving millions of vulnerable Nigerians without critical assistance.
