What You Need to Know
The World Food Programme has announced that hunger levels in Nigeria are reaching record highs due to escalating rebel attacks and instability in the northern regions. Nearly 35 million people may face hunger by 2026 as resources dwindle. Recent violence, including attacks by jihadist groups, has exacerbated the crisis, leaving millions in dire need of assistance.
Africa. The World Food Programme, a United Nations agency, announced that escalating rebel attacks and instability in northern Nigeria are driving hunger to record levels, warning that nearly 35 million people could suffer from hunger by 2026 as resources run out in December.
The World Food Programme added that this forecast, based on the latest “Cadre Harmonisé” report—an analysis of acute food and nutrition insecurity in the Sahel and West Africa—is the highest recorded figure in Nigeria since monitoring began.
Violence has escalated in 2025, with attacks carried out by rebels, including the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), which launched its first attack in Nigeria last month, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Recent incidents highlight the crisis: ISWAP fighters killed a dean in the northeast of the country, while armed gangs kidnapped over 300 school students in a mass abduction following an assault on a government school, resulting in the death of the deputy principal and the abduction of 25 female students.
David Stevenson, the World Food Programme director in Nigeria, stated, “The advance of the rebellion poses a serious threat to stability in the north, and its consequences extend beyond Nigeria.” He added, “Local communities are under severe pressure due to repeated attacks and economic strains.”
Rural farming communities have been the hardest hit, with nearly 6 million people lacking the minimum essential food supplies in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, while 15,000 people in Borno are expected to face conditions akin to famine.
The World Food Programme reported that malnutrition rates are highest among children in Borno, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. Nearly one million people in northeastern Nigeria currently rely on World Food Programme assistance, but funding shortages forced the agency to cut its nutritional programs in July, affecting over 300,000 children. In areas where clinics have closed, malnutrition has worsened from “serious” to “critical” in the third quarter.
The United States, the largest donor to the World Food Programme, reduced its foreign aid during President Donald Trump’s administration, while other major countries have also announced cuts to assistance.
The World Food Programme has warned that its funding for emergency food and nutrition assistance could run out by December, leaving millions of people dependent on its support without help in 2026.
Nigeria has faced ongoing challenges with food security, particularly in the northern regions, where conflict and instability have disrupted agricultural production and access to food. The rise of militant groups has further complicated the situation, leading to increased violence and displacement of communities, which has significantly impacted food availability and nutrition levels.
The humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by reductions in international aid, particularly from major donors. The World Food Programme has highlighted the urgent need for increased support to address the growing hunger crisis, as millions of Nigerians rely on food assistance to survive amid the ongoing.
