Nigeria is on the brink of an alarming humanitarian catastrophe, as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) raises the alarm over a massive funding shortfall that threatens to plunge millions into deeper hunger and insecurity. The agency’s regional director, Margot van der Velden, described the crisis as “unprecedented,” warning that nearly 31 million people in Nigeria are facing acute food insecurity, a staggering figure equivalent to the population of Texas going hungry.
This growing emergency, fueled by conflict, inflation, and economic instability, is now being severely compounded by dramatic cuts in international aid. Starting in August, the WFP says it will be forced to scale back or suspend its life-saving operations in several parts of Nigeria, placing already vulnerable populations at even greater risk.
WFP Aid Cuts Will Hit Nigeria’s Most Fragile Communities
Due to the critical funding gap, over 1.3 million people in Nigeria are expected to lose access to food and nutrition assistance. In Borno State alone, the heart of the Boko Haram insurgency, 150 nutrition clinics may shut down, leaving more than 300,000 children at risk of severe malnutrition. Additionally, over 700,000 internally displaced persons could be left without any means of survival.
Van der Velden said, “We are approaching a heartbreaking moment where we may have to choose who eats and who doesn’t. Without urgent funding, WFP will not be able to continue supporting those in greatest need.”
U.S. Aid Cuts Deepen the Crisis
The crisis has been aggravated by the withdrawal of U.S. foreign assistance, once a cornerstone of the humanitarian response in northeastern Nigeria. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), previously a vital partner in delivering food, shelter, and healthcare to conflict-affected communities, has seen major funding cuts.
The Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID and slashing of foreign aid budgets has left a huge vacuum, making it difficult for NGOs and international agencies to meet growing needs. Other Western donors have followed suit, reducing or freezing aid contributions, resulting in a collective drop in support across Africa.
WFP’s Dire Financial Needs in Nigeria and Beyond
The WFP urgently requires $130 million to maintain its operations in Nigeria through the rest of the year. Yet, as of July, that appeal is only 21% funded. The funding gap is not limited to Nigeria, it reflects a broader trend across the region.
Here are the latest WFP funding figures in neighboring countries:
Cameroon: $65.1 million appeal, only 19% funded
Mauritania: $35.8 million appeal, just 39% funded
Central African Republic: $29.7 million appeal, 49% funded
Mali: $33.2 million appeal, 57% funded
Niger: $21.4 million appeal, 74% funded
These shortfalls have already resulted in drastic cuts to emergency food aid. In some countries like Mali and Niger, WFP’s support has dropped by over 80%, leaving millions with little to no help during times of urgent need.
A Region on the Brink: Rising Hunger, Rising Risk
The situation in Nigeria is mirrored across West and Central Africa. From Mauritania to the Central African Republic, the same dangerous pattern is emerging rising hunger, falling support, and growing threats to peace and stability.
“Communities fracture and the risk of instability increases when hunger goes unchecked,” van der Velden warned. “Without food, people grow desperate. Desperation turns to conflict. We risk undoing decades of development and peacebuilding.”
WFP’s aid in the region has dropped by 60% overall, now reaching only 5 million people across all affected countries, a massive decline compared to previous years.
What’s Driving the Hunger Crisis in Nigeria?
Several overlapping factors are fueling Nigeria’s food insecurity:
Depleted food reserves among rural households
Soaring food prices and inflation due to economic instability
Sharp depreciation of the naira, making food imports more expensive
Widespread conflict in the northeast and central regions
Unprecedented funding cuts by international donors
With the planting season disrupted by conflict and farmers unable to access land safely, future harvests are also at risk, setting the stage for even worse hunger levels in 2026.
A Call to Action
The WFP is urgently appealing to the international community to step in and fill the funding gap. Without immediate contributions, millions of Nigerians including vulnerable children, women, and the elderly could face a deepening hunger crisis.
Humanitarian organizations are calling on governments, donors, and private sector partners to recommit to supporting Nigeria and its neighbors in West and Central Africa before the situation spirals beyond control.
The stakes could not be higher. If left unaddressed, this crisis threatens to destabilize one of the most populous regions in Africa, with consequences that will ripple far beyond its borders.
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