Parts of Nigeria are now confronting unprecedented levels of hunger, as a sharp rise in militant attacks and instability in the country’s north disrupts food supplies and livelihoods. The World Food Programme (WFP) has cautioned that its resources are expected to run out by December, placing nearly 35 million people at risk of hunger in 2026.
The spike in violence and displacement has severely impacted agricultural production and food distribution networks, two critical lifelines for communities already facing economic pressure. The instability has also disrupted access to markets, safe transport routes, and farming activities, which together have driven up food prices and deepened food insecurity.
According to the WFP, families in conflict-affected zones are often forced to rely on scarce humanitarian aid or irregular coping strategies such as reducing meals, withdrawing children from school, or selling livestock and assets. The agency warns that without urgent interventions, including scaled-up food assistance, livelihood support and improved security, the crisis could escalate into widespread famine in affected states.
Humanitarian groups and local stakeholders are calling on the government and international partners to prioritise food relief, ensure safe access for aid delivery and restore confidence in agriculture and market systems. They say such measures are essential to prevent a catastrophe that could affect millions of Nigerians.
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