Nigeria is on the brink of a deepening hunger crisis, with 25 million people currently experiencing acute food insecurity, a figure projected to reach 33 million between June and August 2025, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Speaking at a workshop in Abuja, organised in partnership with the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), WFP officials stressed the need for urgent collaboration to tackle hunger and malnutrition.
WFP’s Head of Programme, Seriene Loum, represented by the Country Director David Stevenson, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to Nigeria’s food security, highlighting its $2.5bn investment under the 2023-2027 Nigeria Country Strategy Plan (CSP).
He emphasised that WFP would work closely with the Nigerian government to mobilize resources and fully implement its programmes.
“WFP Nigeria CSP 2023-2027, a five-year project, has a dedicated activity for strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing the enabling environment in line with national targets to achieve zero hunger by 2030.
“The project focuses on food technology, fortification of supply chain management, improving nutrition, and emergency preparedness responses.
“2023 to 2027 has five pillars, and each of them focuses on zero hunger and improved nutrition.
“We have some interventions that focus on emergency response, making sure that people will not go to bed hungry, which are life-saving activities that aim to provide immediate food assistance to people that are in need,” he said.
Loum stressed the urgency of WFP’s role in addressing Nigeria’s growing food crisis, noting that the country operates one of Africa’s largest social safety net programmes designed to lift millions out of poverty.
He said, “Considering the current economic trend and level of vulnerabilities in Nigeria, the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) result of October 2024 reveals that about 25 million Nigerians are acutely food insecure and projected to reach 33 million between June to August 2025.
“It is therefore expedient that all stakeholders, most especially WFP, work together with the Federal Government for this very ambitious goal to be achieved.”
On his part, Badamasi Lawal, CEO of NSIPA, represented by Uche Obi, Director of Human Resources Management, commended WFP’s role in supporting Nigeria’s efforts to combat poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
The NSIP, launched in 2016 and elevated to a full-fledged agency in 2023, has made significant strides in addressing poverty, inequality, and social exclusion, he said.
Through the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), Conditional Cash Transfer Programme (NCTO), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG), and N-Power, Lawal alleged that the federal government has reached millions of Nigerians.
“The WFP’s expertise in food security, nutrition, and emergency response will be invaluable in enhancing our programs and achieving greater impact.
“This collaboration will enable us to leverage each other’s strengths, share knowledge, and develop innovative solutions to address the complex challenges facing our nation.”
“We are providing them with opportunities for economic empowerment, education, and improved well-being,” he assured.
