UN Raises the Alarm over Acute Hunger in Nigeria, Says 35m People at Risk in Coming Months

Nigeria is confronting a severe and deepening hunger crisis, with the United Nations warning that around 35 million people are at risk of acute hunger from June to August. This period, known as the lean season, is expected to disproportionately affect the northern parts of the country.

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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.

The UN Humanitarian Country Team highlighted that nearly one in seven Nigerians could face acute food insecurity. This situation places Nigeria among the nations with the most significant hunger emergencies globally. The UN stressed that delayed assistance could force millions of families to further reduce their food intake, sell essential assets, or withdraw children from school, leading to long-term negative consequences.

In the North-west and North-east regions alone, an estimated 6.4 million children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year. The global body is urgently appealing for funding to scale up life-saving interventions and support vulnerable populations.

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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 warning underscores the critical need for immediate action to avert a widespread humanitarian catastrophe. The scale of the potential crisis necessitates a robust response from both national authorities and international partners to provide essential food aid and support to those most at risk.

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