The United Nations has raised fresh concerns over worsening food insecurity in Nigeria, warning that about 35 million people could face acute hunger during the June-to-August lean season.
In a statement issued on Friday, the UN Humanitarian Country Team in New York described the situation as a growing humanitarian emergency, saying millions of Nigerians may struggle to access adequate food in the coming months.
According to the organisation, nearly one out of every seven Nigerians is projected to experience severe food shortages, placing the country among the world’s most serious hunger hotspots.
The crisis is expected to hit northern Nigeria hardest, particularly communities already battling insecurity, displacement and economic hardship.
The UN warned that delays in humanitarian assistance could force struggling families into desperate survival measures.
“If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced to reduce meals further, sell assets, or withdraw their children from school with the long-term impact that we know it has,” the organisation stated.
Beyond food shortages, the UN also expressed concern over rising child malnutrition.
It said an estimated 6.4 million children across the North-West and North-East could suffer acute malnutrition this year, raising fears of a worsening health emergency if urgent interventions are not implemented.
To address the looming crisis, the global body appealed for immediate financial support to scale up emergency relief operations.
The UN noted that its 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, valued at $516 million, remains significantly underfunded.
Latest figures show that only about $215 million slightly above 40 per cent of the required funding has been received as of May 2026.
The agency warned that without urgent support, vulnerable households already living on the edge could face even harsher conditions as food supplies shrink and prices remain unstable during the lean season.
