The United Nations has warned that Nigeria is facing a looming “catastrophic” hunger crisis as critical food aid programs are scaled back or shut down due to severe funding shortages, placing millions of vulnerable people at risk across the country.

According to UN humanitarian agencies, dwindling international donations and rising operational costs have left lifesaving food assistance programs dangerously underfunded, particularly in conflict affected and climate vulnerable regions of northern Nigeria.

The warning comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with a convergence of crises, armed conflict, economic hardship, climate shocks, and soaring food prices that have pushed millions into food insecurity.

The UN estimates that millions of Nigerians are currently facing acute food insecurity, with the worst conditions reported in the northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, where more than a decade of insurgency has displaced communities and disrupted farming and trade.

Humanitarian agencies say food stocks are being depleted rapidly, forcing aid groups to reduce ration sizes, limit the number of beneficiaries, or suspend assistance altogether.

In some areas, families who once received monthly food rations are now being told aid may no longer be available unless additional funding is secured urgently.

UN officials warn that without immediate financial support, malnutrition rates especially among children and pregnant women could rise sharply in the coming months.

The World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF report increasing cases of severe acute malnutrition, particularly among children under five. Many children are arriving at health facilities already in critical condition.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also among the most affected, with reduced access to nutritious food increasing the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Aid workers on the ground describe communities where families are skipping meals, selling off assets, or resorting to unsafe coping strategies just to survive.

UN officials attribute the funding shortfall to a combination of factors:
• Global donor fatigue, as multiple humanitarian crises compete for limited resources
• Rising costs driven by inflation, fuel prices, and insecurity
• Shifts in donor priorities, particularly amid conflicts in other parts of the world.

Beyond the aid shortfall, Nigeria’s broader economic challenges are intensifying hunger across both rural and urban areas. Inflation has driven food prices to record highs, while unemployment and reduced purchasing power have left many households unable to afford basic staples. Farmers in several regions have also been affected by flooding, drought, and insecurity, reducing food production and further straining supply.

The UN warns that without intervention, food insecurity could spread beyond traditionally vulnerable regions into more densely populated parts of the country. Insecurity remains a major driver of hunger in northern Nigeria, where armed groups continue to disrupt farming activities and restrict access to markets.