The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations, has sounded a grave warning over a deepening humanitarian emergency in the country, where more than 31 million people are now food insecure.
The alert comes as global humanitarian financing reaches what officials describe as “a historic low,” leaving millions of vulnerable Nigerians without lifelines of support.
The warning was contained in a joint communiqué released in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate World Humanitarian Day 2025. Both the Nigerian government and the UN described the situation as “an unfolding disaster” that requires urgent and coordinated international response.
“This year’s World Humanitarian Day comes at a time when global solidarity with people in need is at its lowest ebb,” the statement said. “Pipelines for food and nutrition that sustain millions of people—especially children—are severely disrupted, if not completely exhausted.”
The communiqué revealed that:
31 million Nigerians are currently food insecure.
Over 10 million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition.
3.5 million children are severely malnourished, with 2.5 million of them concentrated in six northern states.
An estimated 400,000 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) require immediate intervention to avoid life-threatening consequences.
Marking the global observance, the FG and UN also paid tribute to humanitarian workers who have died in the line of duty, many of them Nigerians working in conflict zones.
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They called for stronger protection for both aid workers and civilians caught in crises.
“We particularly call for the protection of women and girls, who are among the most vulnerable,” the statement read. “Attacks on humanitarian workers, and the communities they serve, must end.”
In response to the worsening emergency, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction pledged to scale up domestic funding for relief efforts while tightening accountability mechanisms.
The government also urged international donors and partners to close widening financing gaps. “We call for urgent support to provide food and nutritional aid to millions of Nigerians whose lives are at stake,” the communiqué said.
Looking ahead, Nigeria and the UN affirmed their joint commitment to gradually transition from internationally driven humanitarian operations to locally led, funded, and implemented systems, while maintaining humanitarian principles in conflict-affected areas.