UN, World Bank raise the alarm over rising hunger, poverty in Nigeria

The United Nations and the World Bank have sounded the alarm over worsening hunger and poverty in Nigeria, warning that millions face deepening hardship amid soaring inflation, insecurity, and weak economic growth.

In a joint report released Wednesday, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) listed Nigeria among countries of “very high concern” for severe food insecurity, alongside Afghanistan, Somalia, and Syria.

The agencies said global hunger is worsening due to conflict and economic shocks, with millions at risk of starvation.

“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe,” warned WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, urging urgent international support.

The report revealed that only $10.5 billion of the $29 billion required for emergency food assistance has been received, forcing aid cuts in several countries.

FAO said urgent funding is needed to sustain agricultural livelihoods through seed and livestock support before planting seasons.

Meanwhile, the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update paints a grim picture of the nation’s poverty rate, showing that over 129 million Nigerians — or 56% of the population — now live below the poverty line, up from 40% in 2018.

It attributed the spike to inflation, insecurity, flooding, and slow growth, warning that “being employed is no guarantee of escaping poverty” due to low wages and poor job quality.

The report also showed a surge in urban poverty, rising from 18% in 2018 to 31% in 2024, as economic pressures spread beyond rural areas.

While commending the federal government’s expanded cash transfer initiatives, the Bank urged deeper structural reforms to stabilise prices, boost productivity, and create sustainable jobs to reverse the worsening poverty trend.