The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that millions of people in Nigeria’s northern states, particularly in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, could face devastating food shortages as early as April 2025 due to severe funding shortfalls. Without urgent financial support, the agency will be forced to suspend lifesaving food and nutrition assistance to millions of crisis-affected individuals, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable families.
The food crisis in northeast Nigeria is part of a broader regional emergency across the Sahel, where escalating conflict, economic instability, and climate shocks have worsened food insecurity. According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé food security report released in December 2024, a staggering 4.8 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states will experience acute hunger between June and August 2025—a sharp rise from 4.3 million in 2023.
“The global reduction in aid is having a direct and devastating impact on our ability to support vulnerable Nigerians,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP Regional Director for Western Africa. “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.”
The humanitarian situation in northeast Nigeria has been deteriorating due to persistent conflict, displacement, and extreme weather patterns. The Boko Haram insurgency, ongoing violence from armed groups, and the destruction of farmlands have left millions dependent on humanitarian aid for survival. Simultaneously, high inflation and climate-related disasters, including devastating floods in 2024, have further weakened household resilience.
The WFP requires $620 million in funding over the next six months to continue assisting crisis-affected people across the Sahel and northeast Nigeria. However, without urgent donor intervention, food rations will be cut, and millions will be left without support 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 urged.
As northeast Nigeria prepares for an unprecedented hunger crisis, the WFP is working closely with national and state governments to assess and adapt its response. However, ensuring safe and unhindered access to affected communities remains a major 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.
