The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised concern over the impact of dwindling donor funding on its humanitarian operations in northern Nigeria, warning that millions of vulnerable people are at risk of going without critical food and nutrition assistance.
The UN agency says it urgently requires 89 million dollars over the next six months to sustain its food and nutrition support as well as essential logistics operations across affected communities.
Speaking on the situation, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Kinday Samba, said persistent funding shortages have significantly curtailed the organisation’s ability to respond to growing humanitarian needs, despite a steady rise in the number of people facing severe food insecurity.
According to him, an estimated 6.2 million people in northern Nigeria are currently experiencing acute food insecurity. However, limited resources mean the organisation can support only about 740,000 people, a sharp decline from the 1.3 million beneficiaries reached during the peak of the 2025 lean season.
The reduction in assistance leaves approximately 5.5 million people, including large numbers of women and children, without access to lifesaving food and nutrition support at a time when humanitarian needs continue to escalate.
The WFP warned that unless additional funding is secured urgently, vulnerable households could face worsening hunger, malnutrition and other humanitarian challenges. The agency is therefore appealing to international donors and development partners to provide timely financial support to enable it to continue delivering critical assistance to those most in need across northern Nigeria.
