Daud Olatunji
Save the Children International (SCI) has warned over the severe risk of hunger facing over 16 million Nigerian children.
According to the SCI Country Director, Duncan Harvey, a devastating combination of climate disasters, escalating insecurity, and skyrocketing prices is pushing the country’s hunger crisis to dangerous new levels.
Harvey revealed that conditions in Nigeria have deteriorated significantly, with an additional one million children likely to suffer acute malnutrition by April next year.
He called for urgent intervention to prevent further loss of life and address the deteriorating food crisis, particularly in the northwest and northeast regions, where conflict and violence are severely affecting local economies.
“The crisis in Nigeria is unprecedented, as climate-induced disasters, worsening insecurity, and unaffordable food prices leave over 16 million children vulnerable to hunger,” Harvey said.
“Urgent action is essential to combat this devastating trend and ensure a brighter future for Nigeria’s children.”
Recent findings from Cadre Harmonisé, a prominent authority on hunger in West Africa, show a concerning increase in child malnutrition in Nigeria.
By April 2024, it is estimated that 5.4 million children will be at risk of acute malnutrition — a sharp rise from last year’s 4.4 million children.
Of this number, approximately 1.8 million could suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), a condition that gravely weakens immune systems, leaving children vulnerable to diseases like diarrhea.
The rise in SAM cases is expected to lead to an 80% surge in malnutrition-related deaths and illnesses, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
In 2020, about 7% of Nigeria’s population was affected by hunger; however, recent figures indicate that the rate has more than doubled to 15%, pointing to a deepening crisis across the nation.
Nigeria has been hit by extreme weather events that have exacerbated food insecurity.
This year’s floods, the worst in 30 years, killed over 300 people, displaced 1.2 million others, and devastated large stretches of farmland.
Alongside this, expanding desertification has rendered land in the northern regions less arable, reducing food production and impacting livelihoods.
“Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change demands that we act to bolster communities’ resilience to climate disasters,” Harvey stated.
He emphasized the need for increased awareness, early warning systems, and resources to help communities prepare for future climate shocks.
Conflict and insecurity, particularly in Nigeria’s northwest and northeast, have compounded the hunger crisis. Persistent violence has displaced families, disrupted farming activities, and hampered food supply chains.
These areas now represent hunger hotspots where families struggle daily to access sufficient food and basic necessities.
Save the Children is urging the Nigerian government to take swift action to stabilize food prices, safeguard farmers from violence, and ensure communities receive adequate support to face this crisis.
The organization also advocates for policy reforms to strengthen protections for vulnerable children and families, aiming to curb hunger and reduce food insecurity over the long term.
Save the Children has been a lifeline for countless families in Nigeria since 2001, providing critical services including food, clean water, nutrition programs, protection services, healthcare, and education.
Over the last decade, the organization has intensified its focus in the conflict-ridden northeast, where it has been a major provider of humanitarian assistance since 2014.
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