The Nigerian International Non-Governmental Organisations Forum has issued a serious warning regarding the worsening food and nutrition crisis in the country. They caution that approximately 96,000 children in six northern states are at risk of dying from acute malnutrition if urgent interventions are not implemented.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Country Director, Action Against Hunger Nigeria, Mr. Thierno Diallo, described the situation as a “national emergency that requires coordinated, life-saving action.”
According to him, “In the next three months, an estimated 600,000 children under the age of five will be at risk of severe acute malnutrition in Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara States. Without access to lifesaving treatment, 96,000 of these children are likely to die. That’s over 1,000 children dying every day.”
Diallo revealed that over 31 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity in 2025, adding that the country now ranks among those facing the largest food crises globally.
He lamented that 32 percent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, with rates exceeding 50 percent in parts of the North-West, while over 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at risk of acute malnutrition.
“Food security and nutrition must be treated as non-negotiable for child survival, growth, and future productivity. No child should die from a preventable cause such as hunger or malnutrition,” Diallo asserted.
The warning aligns with recent alerts from international agencies, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which in June 2024 reported that around 11 million Nigerian children under five are experiencing severe food poverty—consuming less than two of the eight essential food groups—making them up to 50 percent more likely to suffer from life-threatening wasting.
Similarly, the World Food Programme (WFP), in November 2024, warned that about 33 million Nigerians could face acute food insecurity by 2025 unless urgent life-saving action is taken. The agency linked the crisis to persistent conflict in the North, inflationary pressures, and climate-induced shocks affecting agriculture and livelihoods.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Country Director, Save the Children International (Nigeria), Mr. Duncan Harvey, emphasised that the joint statement released by the Forum was endorsed by over a dozen international organisations.
“The aim of this collective effort is to draw national and global attention to the gravity of the food security and malnutrition crisis affecting millions of Nigerians,” Harvey said.
In her contribution, the Director of Programme Quality and Influencing, Plan International Nigeria, Mrs. Helen Idiong, stressed the need for increased funding and stronger political will to tackle the worsening humanitarian challenge.
“Severe malnutrition has irreversible effects on physical growth, cognitive development, and economic productivity—all of which are critical for building Nigeria’s human capital,” she explained.
She further called for long-term development investments to break the recurring cycle of hunger and malnutrition. “Food and nutrition security must be treated as a fundamental human right. Only through sustained political will, resource commitment, and collaboration can we reverse this alarming trend,” she added.
The Forum urged the Federal Government and development partners to adopt practical measures, including the establishment of shock-responsive social safety nets, scaling up food assistance and nutrition treatment, and strengthening livelihood support systems.
It also recommended enhanced collaboration on the Cadre Harmonisé and Integrated Food Security Phase Classification frameworks to ensure data-driven and effective response strategies in addressing the crisis.
