Archive · 22 Jan 2026
35 Million Nigerians Face Hunger Amid Aid Collapse
The United Nations says that 35 million people in Nigeria might not have enough food this year.
This includes 3 million children who might not get enough to eat.
The UN has less money to help people, so they can only help 2.5 million people this year.
Last year, they helped 3.6 million people.
The situation is very bad in some parts of Nigeria where there is a lot of fighting.
The UN says Nigeria is trying to help more on its own, but it's still not enough.
The UN is focusing on the most important help they can give because they don't have much money.
35 million Nigerians, including 3 million children, are at risk of hunger in 2026.
The UN's aid budget for 2026 is $516 million, down from $733 million in 2025 and $1.466 billion in 2024.
The UN aims to provide lifesaving aid to 2.5 million people in 2026, down from 3.6 million in 2025.
Conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe face dire conditions with rising violence.
Nigeria is showing increased national ownership of the crisis response through local funding and early-warning actions.
- Who
- 35 million Nigerians, including 3 million children, are at risk of hunger.
- What
- A collapse in global aid budgets has led to a severe reduction in humanitarian aid.
- When
- The situation is critical in 2026, with aid levels dropping significantly from previous years.
- Where
- The crisis is most severe in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe.
- Why
- The long-dominant foreign-led aid model is no longer sustainable, and Nigeria's needs have grown.
- At-Risk Population
- 35 million Nigerians
- Severely Malnourished Children
- 3 million
- UN Aid Budget 2026
- $516 million
- People to Receive Aid in 2026
- 2.5 million
- People Receiving Aid in 2025
- 3.6 million
- People Receiving Aid in 2024
- 7.2 million
- Conflict-Affected States
- Borno, Adamawa, Yobe
- Violence-Related Deaths (Jan-Aug 2025)
- 4,000