The World Food Programme (WFP) has raised alarm over an impending food crisis in Nigeria’s northeastern states, warning that 4.8 million people in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa could face acute hunger by mid-2025 due to severe funding shortages.
In a statement released on Friday, WFP Regional Director for West Africa, Margot van der Velden, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that without immediate financial support, the agency would be forced to suspend lifesaving food and nutrition assistance for crisis-affected individuals, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable families.
“The global reduction in aid is having a direct and devastating impact on our ability to support vulnerable Nigerians,” van der Velden said. “If we do not act now, the consequences for communities in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa will be catastrophic. Food security is national security, and we cannot afford inaction.”
Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The food crisis in northeast Nigeria is part of a larger regional emergency across the Sahel, where conflict, economic instability, and climate change have worsened food insecurity. According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé food security report released in December 2024, the number of people projected to experience acute hunger between June and August 2025 has risen to 4.8 million, up from 4.3 million in 2023.
Decades of conflict, ongoing insurgency, and destruction of farmlands by armed groups have left millions in need of humanitarian aid. Additionally, high inflation and climate-related disasters, including devastating floods in 2024, have further weakened household resilience.
Funding Gap and Potential Consequences
The WFP estimates that $620 million in funding is required over the next six months to continue supporting crisis-affected populations in northeast Nigeria and the broader Sahel region. Without urgent intervention from donors, food rations will be cut, leaving millions without assistance during the peak of the lean season.
“We are witnessing an alarming trend where humanitarian needs are growing, but funding is shrinking. We must reverse this cycle to prevent mass hunger and its long-term consequences for Nigeria,” van der Velden warned.
As northeast Nigeria braces for a worsening hunger crisis, the WFP is collaborating with national and state governments to assess the situation and adapt its response. However, ensuring safe and unhindered access to affected communities remains a significant challenge.
With 33.1 million Nigerians expected to face severe food shortages by mid-2025, humanitarian organizations are calling on international donors and the Nigerian government to act swiftly and prevent a full-scale disaster.
