UN Warns of Record Hunger Crisis in Nigeria as 35 Million Face Severe Food Insecurity by 2026

Unprecedented Hunger Projections for Nigeria

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has sounded a critical alarm, projecting that nearly 35 million Nigerians could face severe food insecurity by the 2026 lean season. This figure represents the highest number recorded in the country since monitoring began, according to the latest Cadre Harmonisé analysis, a regional food security assessment.

The lean season, typically spanning from June to August, but sometimes extending from May to September, is the period before harvest when food stocks are low and prices are high. The WFP's warning highlights a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation driven by a confluence of factors.

Escalating Insecurity and Economic Strain

A primary driver of the impending crisis is the surge in militant attacks and instability across northern Nigeria. Insurgent groups, including the al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified their operations throughout 2025. These attacks have severely impacted rural farming communities, deterring farmers from cultivating their land, destroying irrigation systems, and making essential agricultural inputs inaccessible.

The crisis is further exacerbated by significant economic strain, including double-digit inflation, a volatile Naira-Dollar exchange rate, and high transport and agricultural input costs. These economic pressures, coupled with climate shocks such as floods and prolonged dry spells, and widespread displacement, are undermining livelihoods and food systems across the country.

Northern Regions Face Catastrophic Conditions

The northern states, particularly Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara, are bearing the brunt of the crisis. The WFP reports that nearly 6 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states currently lack basic minimum food supplies. Alarmingly, approximately 15,000 people in Borno State are projected to face famine-like conditions, classified as Phase 5, the highest level of food insecurity.

Malnutrition rates are critically high among children in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. The WFP was forced to scale down its nutrition programs in July due to funding shortfalls, impacting over 300,000 children and leading to a worsening of malnutrition levels from 'serious' to 'critical' in areas where clinics closed.

Urgent Call for Funding Amidst Aid Shortfalls

David Stevenson, WFP Nigeria Country Director, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that 'The advance of insurgency presents a serious threat to stability in the north, with consequences reaching beyond Nigeria.' He added that 'Communities are under severe pressure from repeated attacks and economic stress.'

The WFP has warned that it will run out of resources for emergency food and nutrition assistance by December, underscoring the urgent need for funding. Without immediate financial support, millions will be left without aid in 2026, risking further instability and deepening a crisis that, as Stevenson noted, 'the world cannot afford to ignore.'