35m Nigerians may face acute hunger from next month – UN

The United Nations has warned that about 35 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger from next month, June, until August.

The UN Humanitarian Country Team said Nigeria was facing a deepening hunger crisis, with millions at risk as the lean season sets in.

It said: “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 said the latest report makes Nigeria one of the world’s largest hunger crises, with the burden falling overwhelmingly in northern part of the country.

It added: “If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced to further reduce meals, sell assets or withdraw their children from school with the long term impact that we know that has.”

Across North West and North East Nigeria, the UN said an estimated 6.4 million children are likely to be acutely malnourished this year.

“We and our partners are appealing for urgent funding to scale-up life-saving assistance,” the global multilateral body said.

The UN said the already hyper-prioritised $516 million Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the year 2026 is just over 40 percent funded.

According to the latest humanitarian response plan report, only $215 million out of the $516 million have been received as at May 2026.