The United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Country Team has alerted that Nigeria is facing a consequential deepening hunger crisis that is most likely put millions at risk as the lean season approaches.
The agency which stated this in its latest humanitarian response plan report released on Friday, May 22, 2026, specifically warned that about 35 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger from June to August 2026.
According to the UN; “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 latest report noted that Nigeria is one of the world’s largest hunger crises, with the burden falling overwhelmingly in northern part of the country.
It particularly warned that 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 it has on the country.
According to the UN: “Across North-West and North-East Nigeria, 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 UN stressed that the already hyper-prioritised 516 million dollars Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the year 2026 is just over 40 per cent funded.
The report also stated that only $215 million out of $516 million have been received as of May 2026.
