35 MILLION NIGERIANS AT RISK OF HUNGER IN 2026 — UN
UN warns of deepening crisis as global aid budgets collapse, leaving millions without food support
The United Nations (UN) has warned that 35 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger in 2026, including three million children facing severe malnutrition, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and shrinking international aid.
The figures were disclosed by Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, during the launch of the 2026 Humanitarian Response Plan in Abuja on Thursday, January 22.
According to Mr. Fall, the traditional foreign-led aid model that has sustained humanitarian operations in Nigeria for years is “no longer sustainable,” as global aid budgets continue to collapse while the country’s humanitarian needs expand.
“Conditions in the conflict-hit northeast are dire,” Fall said. “These are not statistics. These numbers represent lives, futures, and Nigerians.”
Conflict and hunger in the northeast
The UN report highlights worsening conditions in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, where civilians face relentless violence from insurgent groups.
Mr. Fall revealed that a surge in suicide bombings and armed attacks killed over 4,000 people in the first eight months of 2025 — matching the total death toll recorded throughout 2023.
The violence has displaced millions, destroyed farmland, and crippled food production, leaving millions dependent on aid that is now rapidly dwindling.
Funding shortfalls force aid cuts
The UN said it now aims to raise $516 million in 2026 to provide lifesaving assistance to just 2.5 million people, a sharp decline from the 3.6 million reached in 2025 which itself was only about half of the 2024 level.
“Given the drop in available funding, we have no choice but to focus only on the most lifesaving interventions,” Fall stated.
The funding crisis has already forced major agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) to scale back operations. In December 2025, the WFP announced it had run out of resources, cutting food support to more than 300,000 children across Nigeria.
Nigeria taking greater ownership
Despite the dire outlook, the UN praised the Nigerian government for taking increasing responsibility for crisis response.
Mr. Fall cited local funding initiatives for lean-season food support and early-warning systems for flood preparedness as examples of progress toward national resilience.
However, he cautioned that without immediate donor support, millions could face starvation in the coming months.
“The situation is critical,” Fall warned. “Without urgent and sustained support, we risk losing an entire generation to hunger and insecurity.”
The UN’s latest figures underline what it describes as Nigeria’s worst food crisis in modern history, driven by conflict, climate shocks, and a severe shortfall in international assistance.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
