UN warns 35m Nigerians could face severe hunger during 2026 lean season

The United Nations has raised alarm over worsening food insecurity in Nigeria, warning that approximately 35 million people could face acute hunger during the country’s 2026 lean season, which spans from June to August.

In a statement issued by the UN Humanitarian Country Team, the global body described the situation as a deepening humanitarian crisis that could leave millions of vulnerable families struggling to survive unless urgent assistance is provided.

According to the UN, nearly one in every seven Nigerians is expected to experience acute food insecurity during the critical period when food supplies are typically at their lowest and prices rise sharply.

“Nearly one in seven people, that is 35 million people nationwide in Nigeria, are likely to face acute food insecurity during this year’s lean season, which runs from June to August,” the organisation stated.

The UN noted that Nigeria is now facing one of the world’s largest hunger crises, with the impact most severe in the northern regions where insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, and climate-related challenges continue to disrupt farming and livelihoods.

The organisation warned that delays in humanitarian support could force millions of households into desperate coping measures, including reducing food consumption, selling productive assets, and withdrawing children from school.

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“If assistance is further delayed, millions of families will be forced to further reduce meals, sell assets or withdraw their children from school with the long-term impact that we know that has,” the statement added.

The humanitarian agency also disclosed that children remain among the worst affected by the worsening food situation. Across North-west and North-east Nigeria, an estimated 6.4 million children are expected to suffer acute malnutrition this year.

The UN and its humanitarian partners appealed for urgent international funding to scale up life-saving interventions and prevent the crisis from worsening in the coming months.

“We and our partners are appealing for urgent funding to scale-up life-saving assistance,” the organisation said.

Despite the growing needs, the UN revealed that the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Nigeria remains significantly underfunded.

According to the latest humanitarian response plan report, only 215 million dollars has been received out of the required 516 million dollars as of May 2026, representing just over 40 per cent of the total funding target.

The UN warned that without increased financial support, humanitarian agencies may struggle to provide adequate food aid, nutrition support, healthcare, and emergency relief to millions of vulnerable Nigerians already facing severe hardship.