ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that northern Nigeria is facing its most severe hunger crisis in nearly ten years, with more than 17 million people experiencing acute food insecurity driven by conflict, mass displacement, and dwindling humanitarian funding.
The agency said the situation is particularly dire in Borno State, where ongoing violence by armed groups has left millions cut off from farming and aid supplies. At least 10,000 people there are already enduring famine-like conditions, according to WFP assessments.
Humanitarian officials say the crisis has been worsened by funding shortages. WFP announced it needs $89 million over the next six months to sustain food and nutrition programs, but reduced international support has forced the closure of 150 nutrition clinics, leaving 300,000 children at risk of severe malnutrition.
Conflict continues to drive displacement, with more than 2.3 million people uprooted in Nigeria’s northeast. Many live in camps where food supplies are scarce and humanitarian access is limited. Erratic rainfall and flooding have further disrupted agriculture, compounding the emergency.
“This is the worst hunger crisis northern Nigeria has seen in nearly a decade,” WFP officials said, warning that without urgent international assistance, millions could slide into catastrophic hunger.
The crisis has global implications. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, and instability in its northern states risks spilling across borders into neighboring nations already struggling with food shortages. WFP has compared the situation to hunger emergencies in Sudan and Gaza, underscoring the scale of the threat.
Aid groups and analysts warn that hunger also fuels insecurity, as desperate communities become more vulnerable to recruitment by extremist groups. Governments across West Africa are watching closely, fearing that worsening conditions could destabilize the wider region.
For now, WFP has issued an urgent appeal for S129 million by July to continue operations. Without new funding, food assistance could run out by March 2026, leaving millions without support.
The agency stressed that the crisis is expanding beyond the northeast, threatening wider instability across Nigeria if immediate action is not taken.
