The United Nations has warned that about 35 million Nigerians could face acute hunger between June and August this year as food insecurity continues to worsen across the country.
The UN Humanitarian Country Team, based in New York, raised the concern on Friday, describing the situation in Nigeria as a growing hunger crisis, particularly with the peak of the lean season approaching.
According to the organisation, nearly one out of every seven Nigerians is expected to experience acute food insecurity during the period.
“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 UN stated.
The global body noted that Nigeria now ranks among countries facing the world’s largest hunger emergencies, with Northern Nigeria carrying the heaviest burden.
The UN warned that delays in humanitarian assistance could worsen the crisis, forcing many families to cut down meals, sell personal belongings or withdraw children from school in order to survive.
“If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced to reduce meals further, sell assets, or withdraw their children from school with the long-term impact that we know it has,” it said.
The organisation further disclosed that an estimated 6.4 million children across the North-east and North-west regions are expected to suffer acute malnutrition this year.
It called for urgent financial support to scale up life-saving interventions and humanitarian assistance across affected communities.
According to the UN, the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Nigeria, valued at 516 million dollars, has received only about 40 per cent funding so far.
The latest humanitarian report shows that only 215 million dollars had been received as of May 2026.