Rome, Italy—Nigeria and five other nations have been classified as countries of "very high concern" due to rapidly worsening food insecurity, according to the latest "Hunger Hotspots: FAO/WFP Early Warnings on Acute Food Insecurity" report released jointly by the Food and Agriculture OrgGlobal Funding Crisis Deepens Plightanization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The UN agencies issued a stark warning that millions globally could face famine or catastrophic hunger between November 2025 and May 2026, driven primarily by conflict, economic instability, and severe weather conditions.

Nigeria's Critical Status

Nigeria, alongside Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Somalia, and Syria, was placed in the "very high concern" category, meaning the risk of acute food insecurity is escalating and requires urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods.

While not yet in the highest-risk group facing an imminent threat of catastrophic hunger (IPC/CH Phase 5)—which includes Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Mali, Haiti, and Yemen—Nigeria remains a major global challenge due to the sheer magnitude of the population affected:

• Projected Numbers: Earlier national assessments indicated that over 30.6 million people in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were projected to face acute food and nutrition insecurity at Crisis (CH Phase 3) or worse during the June–August 2025 lean season.

• Malnutrition Crisis: Nigeria also faces one of the world's most severe child malnutrition crises, with over 5.4 million children projected to be at risk of acute malnutrition.

Key Drivers of Hunger in Nigeria

The FAO and WFP report pinpoints several interconnected factors accelerating the hunger crisis in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East and North-West regions:

1. Conflict and Insecurity: Continued insurgency and armed banditry displace millions, disrupt farming activities, and block humanitarian access in the North-East and parts of the North-West.

2. Economic Shocks: Double-digit inflation for over 10 consecutive years, high food prices, and costly transportation severely erode the purchasing power of vulnerable households.

3. Climate Extremes: Increasing climate hazards, particularly floods, have devastated crop yields, leading to significant annual production losses for staple crops like maize, sorghum, and rice.

Global Funding Crisis Deepens Plight

The UN report stresses that the crisis is being intensified by a dangerous shortfall in humanitarian funding. As of late October 2025, only $10.5 billion of the $29 billion required for emergency food operations globally had been secured.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain warned that this funding gap is forcing aid agencies to implement drastic ration cuts and suspend critical nutrition and school feeding programs, leaving millions more vulnerable to starvation.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu urged global leaders to shift focus from crisis reaction to long-term prevention. "Famine prevention is not just a moral duty—it is a smart investment in long-term peace and stability," he said.

The report serves as a strong call to action for the international community to urgently ramp up funding and political will to address the drivers of hunger in Nigeria and other hotspots.