By Amaka Okafor
Food insecurity is reaching alarming levels across Nigeria, with millions of vulnerable people facing severe hunger as conflict, displacement, and soaring inflation continue to undermine livelihoods. Humanitarian agencies have warned that without sustained international support, the crisis could worsen significantly in the coming months.
The situation is particularly severe in northeast Nigeria, where years of insurgency have displaced millions of people from their homes. Forced into camps and informal settlements, many families have lost access to their farmlands and now depend almost entirely on humanitarian assistance to survive.
In response to the growing emergency, the Government of Japan has provided funding to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver life-saving food assistance to vulnerable communities across the region. The intervention is expected to help thousands of families struggling to cope with the combined effects of conflict, insecurity, and rising food prices.
Among those benefiting from the programme is Hadiza, a 30-year-old widow and mother of four from Borno State. Having endured years of displacement and personal loss caused by the conflict, she said the food support has given her family renewed hope.
“After years of displacement and loss, the support I receive from WFP is helping me to care for my children and rebuild our lives,” Hadiza said. “This food assistance is a lifeline for my little ones and I.”
WFP Nigeria’s Programme Policy Officer, Itaru Furata, described Japan’s contribution as timely, noting that millions of people in northern Nigeria are facing unprecedented levels of hunger. He commended the Japanese government for its commitment to supporting vulnerable populations at a critical time.
“Japan’s support comes at a critical moment, as millions of people in northern Nigeria face unprecedented levels of hunger, offering much-needed assistance to families struggling to survive,” Furata said. “We do not take this support for granted and call on other donors to follow suit in joining our mission to save the lives of the most vulnerable.”
Despite escalating insecurity and climate-related challenges, WFP said it has maintained emergency operations across Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states for the past decade. The agency continues to provide food assistance while supporting recovery efforts, rebuilding resilience, and helping communities restore their livelihoods.
The organization stressed that increased humanitarian support is urgently needed to prevent further deterioration of the crisis. It warned that hunger extends beyond a humanitarian concern, threatening social stability and security by increasing the risks of displacement, migration, and recruitment into armed groups. WFP therefore urged governments, development partners, and donors to sustain investments in food assistance to protect lives and promote long-term peace and resilience in northeast Nigeria.
