The United Nations World Food Programme warned today that Nigeria’s food security crisis is worsening faster than previously anticipated, with conflict driving hunger in some northern states, particularly the northeast, to levels not seen in almost a decade.

The recently completed Cadre Harmonisé analysis shows that more than 17 million people across nine conflict-affected states in northern Nigeria are experiencing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger. This is an increase of almost two million since the last projections.

In Borno state, where insurgent attacks have become increasingly frequent and food assistance has been cut, the analysis shows more than three million people are acutely food insecure. Of these, more than 750,000 people are in severe hunger conditions and over 10,000 people are facing catastrophic hunger. While those in catastrophic hunger represent a small share of Borno’s overall food insecure population, it provides a stark warning that conflict, displacement and shrinking humanitarian assistance are pushing the crisis into more dangerous territory.

"What concerns us most is how this crisis is expanding," said Kinday Samba, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa. "For years, insurgent attacks and violence were largely concentrated in parts of northeast Nigeria. Today, they are spreading across a much wider area and forcing people from farmland, driving displacement and restricting humanitarian access, meaning hunger is quick to follow."

The humanitarian and food security situation has been compounded by ongoing access issues and extreme funding shortfalls that are making it increasingly difficult for WFP to reach vulnerable populations.

The number of inaccessible locations has doubled: a further 15 areas are now considered partially inaccessible for WFP’s frontline staff. Cargo movements along major routes are increasingly disrupted by attacks and illegal checkpoints, impacting how efficiently WFP can move humanitarian supplies. In many locations, WFP’s airlift services could remain the only source of transportation.

Meanwhile, funding shortfalls mean that humanitarian assistance is shrinking. While the number of people food insecure in three northeast states has increased to 6.2 million, WFP is only able to support 740,000 of those, leaving 5.5 million people – particularly children – without lifesaving food and nutrition assistance. This is a significant drop from the 1.3 million people WFP was able to support at the height of the 2025 lean season.

WFP is deeply concerned that the suspension of food assistance is driving people towards desperate coping strategies. Communities have reported cases of individuals joining armed groups in search of food or income, underlining the risks created when hunger deepens and people run out of options

The suspension of food assistance in some camps due to the funding shortfalls has triggered a deeply alarming escalation in exploitation and gender-based harm that is particularly impacting women and children.

“When people lose access to food, the risks of displacement, exploitation and instability increase. Yet resources are at their lowest at the time they are needed most,” said Samba. 

WFP requires USD 89 million over the next six months to continue food and nutrition assistance, and essential logistics support across northern Nigeria before hunger deepens further, more people are displaced and instability spreads across the region. (ILKHA)