In a statement on Friday, the WFP said parts of the region are experiencing extreme hunger for the first time in nearly a decade, with malnutrition worsening due to reduced aid
Nigeria is grappling with its most severe hunger crisis in almost ten years, with thousands in the Northeast at risk of catastrophic food shortages as cuts to humanitarian funding cripple aid efforts, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has said.
In a statement on Friday, the WFP said parts of the region are experiencing extreme hunger for the first time in nearly a decade, with malnutrition worsening due to reduced aid.
In Borno State alone, around 15,000 people face immediate danger, while over 13 million children across the Northeast are projected to suffer from malnutrition this year.
Conflict, displacement, and economic hardship have long driven food insecurity in the region, but the WFP warned that recent cuts in humanitarian assistance are now overwhelming communities’ ability to survive.
“The reduced funding we saw in 2025 has deepened hunger and malnutrition across the region,” Sarah Longford, WFP’s deputy regional director for West and Central Africa, said.
The crisis extends beyond Nigeria. Across West and Central Africa, roughly 55 million people are facing severe food shortages, with more than three-quarters in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.
Although the WFP did not disclose exact figures on lost funding, aid agencies have expressed concern over cuts by the Trump administration under its “America First” policy, as well as reductions by Britain and other countries redirecting funds toward defence.
Funding gaps in 2025 forced the WFP to scale back nutrition programmes in Nigeria, affecting over 300,000 children. The agency warned that nearly 35 million people could face hunger if resources ran low.
“In Nigeria, WFP will only be able to reach 72,000 people in February, a drastic reduction from the 1.3 million assisted during the 2025 lean season,” it said.
The WFP stressed that without urgent funding and action, vulnerable communities in West and Central Africa face another devastating year.
“To break the cycle of hunger for future generations, we need a paradigm shift in 2026. National governments and their partners must increase investment in preparedness, anticipatory action, and resilience-building to empower communities,” Longford said.
The agency added that it urgently needs more than $453 million in the next six months to continue providing life-saving aid across the region.
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