The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, has called on leaders in both the public and private sectors to join forces to tackle the root causes of hunger and restore peace in Nigeria.
Her call follows a five-day visit to the country, during which she witnessed the devastating effects of food insecurity and malnutrition driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability.
“Nigeria, despite its vast agricultural potential, is gripped by a widespread humanitarian crisis,” McCain noted, highlighting the plight of 32 million people struggling to feed themselves.
She pointed to the increasing vulnerability of communities, especially in the northern regions where conflict, high food and fuel prices, and climate events like the worst flooding in 30 years have compounded the crisis.
During her visit to Damasak in Borno State, McCain expressed deep concern about the rising number of children affected by acute malnutrition.
“What I have seen and heard is deeply disturbing. An urgent humanitarian crisis is unfolding in northern Nigeria, with the number of malnourished children soaring as ongoing conflict prevents millions from returning to their homes and lands. These people need peace and stability to restart farming and food production.”
The prolonged crisis, worsened by economic downturns and inflation, is leaving millions displaced and unable to access their farmlands. In the northeast alone, over 3.6 million people have been forcibly displaced, and malnutrition is on the rise, with nine million children at risk of acute malnutrition. Admissions for severe and moderate malnutrition have increased by 40 to 70 percent compared to 2023.
In response, WFP has provided vital support, assisting 1.6 million people with food aid and cash assistance. However, McCain emphasized that more needs to be done. “The scale of this crisis demands a response beyond immediate humanitarian interventions.
We must mobilize funding, technology, and partnerships between the public and private sectors to support rural livelihoods and strengthen food systems.”
McCain engaged with government leaders, private sector representatives, and international organizations in Abuja and Lagos, exploring solutions led by African partners to address food insecurity and promote youth employment.
She emphasized that Nigeria, as West Africa’s largest economy, holds the potential to lead in stabilizing the region and ensuring long-term food security.
To that end, WFP, in collaboration with the Nigerian government and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), is working on a food systems program designed to help communities escape the cycle of conflict. Through the “Out of Conflict, Into Solutions” strategy, the program aims to address post-harvest losses, limited access to agricultural inputs, and poor dietary diversity.
WFP has called for urgent international support, seeking $228 million to address the needs of 1.6 million people in northeast Nigeria over the next six months and prevent further catastrophe.