The Federal Government of Nigeria and its international humanitarian partners have issued an urgent plea for $516 million to address a deepening crisis in the country’s North-East, reports ITREALMS.
The urgency of the appeal, ITREALMS gathered, is underscored by the fact that women and children constitute a staggering 80 per cent of those in dire need of support.
This latest call for funding arrives as the region grapples with the fallout of a 16-year conflict, a situation now aggravated by severe climate shocks, economic instability, and a dramatic decline in international donor contributions.
Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, cautioned that the widening funding gap is directly tied to human survival, noting that every day of delay pushes more malnourished children toward preventable deaths.
The scale of the looming catastrophe is vast, with projections indicating that 3 million children under five across Nigeria will suffer from life-threatening severe acute malnutrition this year, one million of whom reside in the BAY states.
Furthermore, nearly 35 million Nigerians are expected to face acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, with 5.8 million of those located in the North-East.
In a strategic shift, the 2026 HNRP emphasizes a transition toward nationally-led humanitarian action. This move aims to phase out international support gradually as global funding shrinks, placing more responsibility on domestic resources.
Dr. Bernard Doro, the Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, reaffirmed that the government is taking full ownership of coordination to ensure aid efforts align with national reforms meant to reduce poverty and build resilient communities.
The Governors of the affected states; Babagana Zulum of Borno, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, have pledged to strengthen collaboration with partners to ensure aid reaches those in need.
However, they stressed that improved security remains the most critical requirement for creating the stable conditions necessary for long-term solutions.
With funding for the previous year’s plan reaching only half of its required target, the government is now calling on all partners to sustain their engagement during this critical transition to prevent a total collapse of essential services.
Chuks Egbune/DoP
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