In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the humanitarian community, the Nigerian International Non-Governmental Organisations Forum has issued a dire warning: a staggering 96,000 children in six northern states are teetering on the edge of death due to acute malnutrition! This alarming statistic was unveiled during a joint press briefing in Abuja, where the gravity of the food and nutrition crisis was laid bare by Thierno Diallo, the Country Director of Action Against Hunger Nigeria.

Diallo didn’t mince words, declaring the situation a nationwide emergency. With over 31 million Nigerians projected to face acute food insecurity, Nigeria is now positioned as the epicenter of the largest food crisis in the world! This is not just a statistic; it’s a ticking time bomb that demands immediate attention!

Echoing this urgent call, UNICEF has reported that around 11 million Nigerian children under five are suffering from severe food poverty, consuming less than two of the eight essential food groups. This shocking reality makes them up to 50 percent more likely to experience life-threatening wasting. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also joined the chorus, warning that about 33 million people could face acute food insecurity unless life-saving support is mobilized immediately!

“In the next three months, an estimated 600,000 children under the age of five will be at risk of severe acute malnutrition in six northern states. Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara,” Diallo stated, painting a grim picture of the future. “Without access to lifesaving treatment, 96,000 of these children are likely to die. That’s over 1,000 children dying every day!” This is a humanitarian crisis that cannot be ignored!

With 32 percent of Nigerian children under five already stunted, and rates exceeding 50 percent in parts of the North-West, the situation is nothing short of catastrophic. Over 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at risk of acute malnutrition, further compounding the crisis.

Duncan Harvey, the Country Director of Save the Children International (Nigeria), emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the joint statement released by the Forum was backed by more than a dozen international organizations. This is a clarion call to action that cannot be overlooked!

Helen Idiong, the Director of Programme Quality and Influencing at Plan International Nigeria, passionately called for an urgent increase in funding and stronger political commitment to combat this crisis threatening millions of vulnerable Nigerians, especially children and women. “Severe malnutrition has irreversible effects on physical growth, cognitive development, and economic productivity, all of which are critical for building national human capital,” she warned.

The Forum has urged stakeholders to adopt practical measures to combat this crisis, including establishing shock-responsive social safety nets to protect vulnerable households from future shocks. The recommendations are clear: scale up food assistance, nutrition treatment, and livelihood support, and strengthen collaboration on frameworks to inform more effective response strategies.

This urgent situation underscores the critical need for immediate action to safeguard the lives of vulnerable children and families across Nigeria. The nation is grappling with a crisis that threatens its very future, and the time to act is now!