Northern Nigeria Faces Severe Hunger Crisis, WFP Warns

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that northern Nigeria is experiencing its worst hunger crisis in almost a decade, exacerbated by escalating conflict and funding shortfalls. A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja revealed that 17 million people across nine conflict-affected states are facing crisis and emergency levels of hunger, an increase of nearly two million from previous projections.

Borno State is the most severely impacted, with three million people experiencing acute food insecurity, including 750,000 facing severe hunger. Although the number of people classified as facing catastrophic hunger is small, the situation is dire.

WFP's West and Central Africa Regional Director, Kindai Samba, expressed concern over the widening scope of the crisis, driven by insurgent attacks and violence, which have displaced populations and restricted humanitarian access. The agency noted that humanitarian operations are increasingly difficult due to worsening insecurity and severe funding shortages, with an appeal for $89 million needed over the next six months to sustain food and nutrition assistance.