UN Warns of Rising Hunger in Nigeria, 35 Million People at Risk in the Coming Months

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The United Nations (UN) warned over the weekend that roughly 35 million Nigerians could face acute hunger between June and August.

The UN Humanitarian Country Team in New York City said the hunger crisis in Nigeria is deepening, with millions at risk as the lean season approaches.

“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 stated.

The report places Nigeria among the world’s largest hunger crises, with the burden concentrated largely in the northern regions of the country.

“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 UN added.

Across North‑West and North‑East Nigeria, the UN estimates that about 6.4 million children will be acutely malnourished this year.

“Our partners and we are appealing for urgent funding to scale up life‑saving assistance,” the global multilateral body said.