From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The United Nations has raised serious concerns over Nigeria’s worsening food crisis, warning that about 35 million Nigerians may face acute hunger between June and August this year.
According to the UN Humanitarian Country Team, Nigeria is currently battling a deepening food insecurity emergency, with millions expected to struggle to access food as the lean season approaches.
Our reporter gathered that the report stated that “nearly one in seven people — about 35 million nationwide — are likely to face acute food insecurity during this year’s lean season, which runs from June to August.”
The United Nations described Nigeria as one of the countries facing the world’s largest hunger crises, noting that northern Nigeria remains the worst affected region.
The organisation warned that unless urgent intervention is provided, many families may be forced to skip meals, sell valuable belongings, or withdraw their children from school in order to survive.
It also revealed that an estimated 6.4 million children across North-West and North-East Nigeria are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.
The UN and its humanitarian partners are therefore calling for urgent financial support to expand life-saving interventions in affected communities.
In addition, the latest humanitarian response report indicated that the UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires $516 million in funding, has so far received only about 40 per cent of the needed support.
As of May 2026, only $215 million had reportedly been received.
