UN Flags 35 Million Nigerians at Risk of Acute Hunger as Aid Funding Falters

The United Nations warned on Friday that Nigeria’s lean season could push one in seven people into acute food insecurity. The warning comes as the country’s humanitarian response plan for 2026 shows a significant funding gap, with only $215 million of the $516 million appeal secured as of May.

Key Facts Nearly one in seven Nigerians, about 35 million people, are likely to experience acute food insecurity from June to August. In the northwest and northeast, an estimated 6.4 million children are projected to be acutely malnourished this year. The UN’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Nigeria requested $516 million; to date, donors have contributed $215 million, representing roughly 42 percent of the target.

What It Means The projected hunger surge coincides with the traditional lean season when food stocks are lowest and market prices rise. Acute malnutrition in children can impair growth, cognitive development, and increase susceptibility to disease, effects that may persist into adulthood. The funding shortfall limits the ability of aid agencies to deliver food assistance, nutrition supplements, and livelihood support at scale.

Practical takeaways for readers include monitoring local food prices and nutrition programs, supporting verified relief efforts, and advocating for timely donor commitments. Households in affected areas may need to diversify income sources or seek community‑based feeding programs to mitigate risk.

What to watch next Donor conferences scheduled for later this year and the upcoming harvest outlook will determine whether the funding gap narrows and whether the projected hunger figures materialize.