The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on development partners, donor agencies, humanitarian organizations, and state governments to urgently support a plan to tackle the crisis of hunger, malnutrition, and insecurity in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states.
The joint effort aims to raise \$159 million to deliver food, nutrition, health services, and other life-saving assistance to two million vulnerable people over the next six months.
“An estimated 4.6 million people in the BAY states are projected to face acute food insecurity during the lean season starting in June,” the minister said, citing the March 2025 Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis. “This marks the sixth consecutive year of severe conditions.”
He stressed the need for urgent, coordinated interventions: “This is not merely a humanitarian issue—it is a challenge to the promise of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Multisector Plan, launched at the event, integrates food assistance, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, protection, agriculture, and early recovery efforts.
“No child in Borno, Adamawa, or Yobe should go to bed hungry when the world has enough food.
“No mother should lose a child to a condition we know how to treat, and dignity must never be a casualty of conflict or poverty,” Yilwatda affirmed.
According to the Minister, one million children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition, while over 600,000 face acute malnutrition and risk death without access to nutrition services.
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Fall, echoed the urgency, noting that over 30 million people in Nigeria are at risk of food insecurity.
Fall stated: “Hope lies in fast action. Our ability to save these children is hampered by lack of resources. The needs are huge; funding is low.”
He revealed that in BAY states, 70% of health services and 50% of nutrition services have been compromised, and at least 40% of the 2.3 million women and children in need have lost access to essential services due to funding cuts.
“This is why today we are launching a six-month lean season operational response plan requiring $159 million.
“Every dollar will be scrutinized and put to the most efficient, impactful use,” Fall said.
State governments and NGOs also pledged support, including Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and the Care Best Initiative, a women-led NGO currently active in seven northern states.
