WFP Seeks $228m To Address Food Crisis In North East

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has urgently called for over $228 million in aid to avert a looming humanitarian disaster in North East Nigeria and meet the critical food and nutrition needs of 1.6 million people over the next six months.

According to a statement from the WFP’s Head of Communications and Media, Chi Lael, the appeal comes after WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, concluded a five-day visit to Nigeria, during which she witnessed the escalating food insecurity and malnutrition crisis firsthand.

“An urgent humanitarian crisis is unfolding in northern Nigeria,” McCain stated. “The number of children with acute malnutrition is soaring, and the ongoing conflict is preventing millions from returning to their homes and farmlands.

People desperately need peace and stability so that farming and food production can resume, and this hunger crisis can be halted,” she added. Despite Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential, the country faces a widespread humanitarian crisis fueled by poverty, recurrent conflicts, and climate-related shocks.

Currently, 32 million Nigerians are struggling to feed themselves, with over 3.6 million people displaced by conflict in the northeast and northwest, and severe flooding in Maiduguri recently displaced an additional 400,000 people.

McCain stressed that Nigeria’s protracted crisis, worsened by high inflation, economic slowdown, and rising food prices, is endangering vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women.

Malnutrition rates have surged dramatically, with nine million children now at risk of acute malnutrition. “The number of children admitted for severe and moderate acute malnutrition has increased by 40 and 70 per cent compared to 2023,” she noted.

WFP, alongside the Nigerian government and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), is working on a “ground-breaking food systems programme” aimed at helping communities break the cycle of conflict and build resilient, inclusive food systems that promote self-reliance.

McCain also called on both public and private sector leaders to collaborate in addressing the root causes of hunger and fostering peace. She emphasised that while WFP has already assisted 1.6 million people this year—distributing 32,000 metric tons of food and providing $40 million in cash assistance—these efforts alone are not enough.

The scale of the crisis requires more than immediate humanitarian aid; long-term solutions involving African-led strategies and stronger public-private partnerships are essential.

During her visits to Abuja and Lagos, McCain engaged with government officials, private sector leaders, international financial institutions, and the United Nations to explore innovative solutions, including the role of entrepreneurship in tackling food insecurity and promoting youth employment.

“WFP is committed to delivering lifesaving assistance and addressing the root causes of hunger in Nigeria,” McCain said, stressing the importance of mobilizing resources, technology, and partnerships to empower local communities and strengthen food systems.

WFP’s ongoing efforts seek to tackle post-harvest losses, improve access to agricultural inputs, and enhance dietary di

versity in Nigeria’s most affected regions. However, McCain warned that without immediate and sustained intervention, the situation could deteriorate further.

In a similar vain, the WFP executive director has also called on leaders in both the public and private sectors to join forces to tackle the root causes of hunger and restore peace in Nigeria.

“Nigeria, despite its vast agricultural potential, is gripped by a widespread humanitarian crisis,” McCain noted, highlighting the plight of 32 million people struggling to feed themselves.

She pointed to the increasing vulnerability of communities, especially in the northern regions where conflict, high food and fuel prices, and climate events like the worst flooding in 30 years have compounded the crisis.

However, McCain emphasised that more needs to be done. “The scale of this crisis demands a response beyond immediate humanitarian interventions.

“We must mobilise funding, technology, and partnerships between the public and private sectors to support rural livelihoods and strengthen food systems,” she said.

McCain engaged with government leaders, private sector representatives, and international organizations in Abuja and Lagos, exploring solutions led by African partners to address food insecurity and promote youth employment.

She emphasised that Nigeria, as West Africa’s largest economy, holds the potential to lead in stabilising the region and ensuring long-term food security.