The United Nations has warned that about 35 million Nigerians may face acute hunger between June and August 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, the UN Humanitarian Country Team in New York said Nigeria was experiencing a worsening food crisis as the lean season approaches.
According to the organisation, “Nearly one in seven people, that is 35 million people nationwide in Nigeria, are likely to face acute food insecurity during this year’s lean season, which runs from June to August.”
The UN noted that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest hunger burden globally, with northern Nigeria mostly affected.
It warned that delays in humanitarian assistance could worsen the situation for millions of households.
“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 statement added.
The organisation further disclosed that about 6.4 million children across the North-West and North-East regions are expected to suffer acute malnutrition this year.
The UN and its partners appealed for urgent funding to expand life-saving interventions across affected communities.
It also revealed that the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, valued at 516 million dollars, is only slightly above 40 per cent funded.
According to the latest humanitarian response plan report, only 215 million dollars had been received as of May 2026.
NAN
