OVER ONE MILLION NIGERIANS FACE HUNGER DUE TO FUNDING SHORTAGES
UN’s World Food Programme warns of catastrophic aid cuts amid surging violence and record hunger levels
More than one million people in northeastern Nigeria are at risk of starvation as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warns it will be forced to drastically cut food assistance within weeks due to severe funding shortfalls.
The WFP announced on Thursday that, beginning in February 2026, it will only be able to reach 72,000 people a dramatic decline from the 1.3 million it supported during last year’s lean season.
According to the agency, its resources are now “exhausted,” threatening a critical humanitarian lifeline in a region where WFP has provided aid to nearly two million people annually since 2015.
Record hunger amid surging violence
Nigeria is currently facing its worst hunger crisis on record. The WFP projects that 35 million people nationwide could experience severe food insecurity this year, the highest number ever recorded by the agency for the country.
The worsening crisis is being fuelled by escalating violence and mass displacement. Armed groups have displaced 3.5 million people, destroyed farmlands and food supplies, and disrupted local markets.
Just last week, gunmen reportedly kidnapped over 150 worshippers during coordinated church attacks, underscoring the deteriorating security situation.
Funding cuts deepen the crisis
The humanitarian situation has been further compounded by global aid reductions. WFP officials say the crisis was triggered by major cuts to U.S. assistance through USAID, forcing the agency to scale back operations across West and Central Africa.
In July 2025, WFP had already begun limiting nutrition programmes in the region, citing dwindling donor support.
David Stevenson, WFP’s Country Director for Nigeria, warned that the looming suspension of food assistance will have “disastrous humanitarian, security, and economic repercussions” for millions of displaced and starving people.
“The scale of need has never been greater, yet our resources have never been this low,” he said, urging international donors to act immediately to prevent a total collapse of food relief efforts.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
