The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned it will halt emergency food and nutrition assistance to 1.3 million people in northeastern Nigeria at the end of July, with stocks entirely depleted and no reserves left
David Stevenson, WFP’s Country Director in Nigeria, described the dire situation: “Once the current distributions end, life‑saving assistance will cease unless immediate funding arrives.” The suspensions would affect more than 150 nutrition clinics in Borno and Yobe states, cutting off treatment for over 300,000 children under the age of two
The funding shortfall is largely attributed to major reductions in international support, notably from USAID, which contributed around 45% of WFP’s Nigeria budget in 2024. With global aid drying up, the agency says it needs US $130 million to keep its operations running through December 2025
Stevenson highlighted that Nigeria is facing record levels of acute hunger, with nearly 31 million people in need nationwide. He warned that without urgent assistance, many will be forced to migrate, adopt negative coping strategies, or even join extremist groups in a bid to survive
The collapse of food assistance comes against the backdrop of escalating violence—homes destroyed by militant attacks have displaced over 2 million people in the Lake Chad Basin, while climate shocks and soaring food prices compound the crisis
As the WFP distribution pipeline grinds to a halt, the organisation is issuing a stark warning: Nigeria—and indeed the wider Sahel region—faces not only a deepening humanitarian emergency, but a growing threat to regional stability if immediate funding is not secured