Amanze Chinonye
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that northern Nigeria is facing its worst food security crisis in nearly a decade, with more than 17 million people across nine conflict-affected states now experiencing severe hunger.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the UN agency said the latest Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis found that more than 17 million people are facing crisis, emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity an increase of nearly two million from earlier projections.
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The WFP attributed the worsening crisis to persistent armed conflict, mass displacement, restricted humanitarian access, flooding, soaring food prices and critical funding shortfalls, which it said have combined to push millions deeper into hunger.
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The agency identified Borno State as the epicentre of the crisis, where more than three million people are acutely food insecure. Of that number, more than 750,000 are experiencing severe hunger, while over 10,000 have reached catastrophic levels of food insecurity the most extreme stage of hunger.
Although those in catastrophic conditions represent a relatively small proportion of Borno’s food-insecure population, the WFP said the figures underscore a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation driven by conflict, displacement and dwindling humanitarian assistance.
Expressing concern over the expanding scope of the crisis, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Kinday Samba, said insecurity was no longer confined to Nigeria’s North-East.
“What concerns us most is how this crisis is expanding,” Samba said.
“For years, insurgent attacks and violence were largely concentrated in parts of North-East Nigeria. Today, they are spreading across a much wider area, forcing people from their farmlands, driving displacement and restricting humanitarian access, meaning hunger is quick to follow.”
The WFP said the deteriorating security situation has further hampered humanitarian operations, revealing that the number of locations inaccessible to its frontline staff has doubled, with an additional 15 areas now classified as partially inaccessible.
It added that attacks along major transport corridors and the proliferation of illegal checkpoints have disrupted the movement of humanitarian supplies, leaving air transport as the only reliable means of reaching some vulnerable communities.
The agency also warned that severe funding constraints have significantly reduced its operational capacity. While an estimated 6.2 million people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states require urgent food assistance, current resources allow the WFP to reach only about 740,000 people.
This represents a sharp decline from the 1.3 million people the agency assisted during the peak of the 2025 lean season, leaving about 5.5 million people many of them children without life-saving food and nutrition support.
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According to the WFP, the suspension of food assistance in some displacement camps due to funding shortages is forcing vulnerable households to adopt increasingly desperate coping strategies.
The agency said communities have reported cases of people joining armed groups in search of food or income, while the reduction in humanitarian assistance has also led to a rise in exploitation and gender-based violence, particularly affecting women and children.
“When people lose access to food, the risks of displacement, exploitation and instability increase. Yet resources are at their lowest at the time they are needed most,” Samba said.
The WFP said it urgently requires 89 million dollars over the next six months to sustain food assistance, nutrition programmes and critical logistics operations across northern Nigeria, warning that without immediate funding, hunger, displacement and instability could worsen across the region.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
