Extreme hunger returns to North-East Nigeria after aid cuts

Nigeria is sliding into its most severe hunger emergency in almost a decade, with communities in the North-East now facing extreme food shortages as shrinking aid budgets undermine relief efforts, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.

In a statement issued on Friday, the UN agency said parts of the region are experiencing “extreme hunger for the first time in nearly 10 years”, driven by sharp reductions in humanitarian funding that have worsened malnutrition.

Borno State is among the worst affected, with around 15,000 people at immediate risk, while more than 13 million children across the North-East are expected to suffer from malnutrition this year.

Although conflict and displacement have long strained food supplies, the WFP said funding cuts in 2025 have pushed vulnerable communities beyond their coping limits.

“The reduced funding we saw in 2025 has deepened hunger and malnutrition across the region,” said Sarah Longford, WFP’s deputy regional director for West and Central Africa.

The agency revealed that its reach in Nigeria has drastically declined. “In Nigeria, WFP will only be able to reach 72,000 people in February, a drastic reduction from the 1.3 million assisted during the 2025 lean season.”

The WFP warned that without urgent financial support, the crisis could worsen across West and Central Africa, where millions already face severe food insecurity.

“To break the cycle of hunger for future generations, we need a paradigm shift in 2026,” Longford said, calling on governments and partners to invest more in preparedness and resilience.