The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on 2 July 2026 that Nigeria’s food security crisis is worsening faster than previously anticipated, with conflict driving hunger in some northern states, particularly the northeast, to levels not seen in almost a decade, according to a press release issued from Abuja. The recently completed Cadre Harmonisé analysis shows that more than 17 million people across nine conflict-affected states in northern Nigeria are experiencing crisis, emergency, or catastrophic levels of hunger. This marks an increase of almost two million since the last projections. Overall, the number of people food insecure across the country has risen to 36.2 million. The findings underline how conflict, displacement, and shrinking humanitarian assistance are converging to deepen the crisis.
The Cadre Harmonisé update focuses on hotspot locations in northern Nigeria, particularly camps for displaced people and host communities in conflict-affected areas. It responds to an escalation of attacks since the November Cadre Harmonisé was released. In Borno state, insurgent attacks have become increasingly frequent while food assistance has been cut. For years, violence was largely concentrated in parts of northeast Nigeria. Today, it is spreading across a much wider area.
In Borno alone, more than three million people are acutely food insecure, with over 750,000 in severe hunger conditions and more than 10,000 facing catastrophic hunger. Although those in catastrophic hunger represent a small share of Borno’s overall food insecure population, the figure signals that the crisis is entering more dangerous territory. The number of inaccessible locations has doubled, with a further 15 areas now considered partially inaccessible for WFP’s frontline staff. Cargo movements along major routes are increasingly disrupted by attacks and illegal checkpoints. In many locations, WFP’s airlift services could remain the only source of transportation.
“What concerns us most is how this crisis is expanding,” said Kinday Samba, WFP Regional Director for West and Central Africa. She noted that attacks are forcing people from farmland, driving displacement, and restricting humanitarian access, meaning hunger is quick to follow. While the number of food insecure people in three northeast states has climbed to 6.2 million, WFP is only able to support 740,000 of them, leaving 5.5 million people — particularly children — without lifesaving food and nutrition assistance. This is a significant drop from the 1.3 million people WFP supported at the height of the 2025 lean season. Communities have reported cases of individuals joining armed groups in search of food or income.
The suspension of food assistance in some camps due to funding shortfalls has triggered an alarming escalation in exploitation and gender-based harm, particularly affecting women and children.
“When people lose access to food, the risks of displacement, exploitation and instability increase. Yet resources are at their lowest at the time they are needed most,” Samba said.
WFP requires USD 89 million over the next six months to continue food and nutrition assistance and essential logistics support across northern Nigeria. The agency warns that without this funding, hunger will deepen, more people will be displaced, and instability could spread across the region.
