35 million Nigerians risk acute hunger in coming months, UN

The United Nations has issued a stark warning, revealing that approximately 35 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger in the coming months. The UN Humanitarian Country Team highlighted that Nigeria is grappling with a worsening hunger crisis, with millions facing severe food insecurity as the lean season, typically from June to August, approaches.

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Nearly one in seven people, that is 35 million people nationwide in Nigeria, are likely to face acute food insecurity during this year’s lean season, which runs from June to August.

This alarming figure means nearly one in seven people across Nigeria could face acute food insecurity. The UN report positions Nigeria among the countries with the most severe hunger crises globally. The burden of this crisis falls disproportionately on the northern regions of the country.

“If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced to reduce meals further, sell assets, or withdraw their children from school with the long-term impact that we know it has,” the UN stated, emphasizing the dire consequences of inaction. In the North-west and North-east regions alone, an estimated 6.4 million children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.

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If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced to reduce meals further, sell assets, or withdraw their children from school with the long-term impact that we know it has.

The global multilateral body is urgently appealing for funds to bolster life-saving assistance efforts. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires $516 million, is currently underfunded, having received just over 40% of the necessary amount, totaling $215 million as of May 2026. This significant funding gap jeopardizes the ability to provide essential aid to millions of vulnerable Nigerians.

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Our partners and we are appealing for urgent funding to scale up life-saving assistance.