UN warns: 35m Nigerians to face acute hunger from June

The United Nations (UN) has warned that about 35 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger from June to August 2026.

The UN Humanitarian Country Team said Nigeria was facing a deepening hunger crisis, with millions at risk as the lean season approaches.

“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 agency stated in its latest humanitarian response plan report release on Friday, May 22, 2026.

The UN said the latest report makes Nigeria one of the world’s largest hunger crises, with the burden falling overwhelmingly in northern part of the country.

“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 we know that has,” the UN added.

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Across North-West and North-East Nigeria, the UN said 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 global multilateral body said.

The UN said the already hyper-prioritised 516 million dollars Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for the year 2026 is just over 40 per cent funded.

According to report, only $215 million out of $516 million have been received as of May 2026.