The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that northeastern Nigeria is facing a severe food crisis, with thousands at risk of famine for the first time in nearly ten years.
In Borno State alone, about 15,000 people are under immediate threat, while more than 13 million children across the Northeast are projected to suffer malnutrition this year.
WFP cited ongoing conflict, displacement, and economic pressures as longstanding drivers of food insecurity, now worsened by cuts to humanitarian aid.
Sarah Longford, WFP’s deputy regional director for West and Central Africa, said that funding shortfalls in 2025 had already forced the agency to scale back nutrition programs, leaving over 300,000 children without assistance.
“In Nigeria, WFP will only be able to reach 72,000 people in February, a drastic reduction from the 1.3 million assisted during the 2025 lean season,” she added.
Across West and Central Africa, 55 million people face severe food shortages, with Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger hardest hit.
WFP said it urgently required more than $453 million over the next six months to maintain life-saving aid across the region.
The UN agency warned that without immediate resources and coordinated action, vulnerable populations are headed for another year of extreme hunger.
Longford emphasised the need for increased investment in preparedness, anticipatory action, and resilience-building to break the cycle of hunger for future generations.
The WFP also noted disruptions in Mali and Cameroon, which are leaving millions cut off from critical food supplies.
The agency’s statement serves as a stark reminder of the growing humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for international support to avert widespread famine in the region.
