The Nigeria International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) Forum has raised an urgent alarm over the worsening food and nutrition crisis in the country, revealing that 96,000 children under the age of five across six northern states are at imminent risk of death due to severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja, Thierno Diallo, Country Director of Action Against Hunger Nigeria, and Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children International Nigeria, described the situation as a nationwide emergency. They emphasized that without immediate intervention, the country could face one of the largest child survival crises in its history.
The Forum called on the Nigerian government, international donors, and humanitarian partners to scale up nutrition-specific interventions, including therapeutic feeding programs, community health outreach, and emergency food aid. They also urged the implementation of long-term strategies to address the root causes of food insecurity, such as conflict, displacement, and climate shocks.
“The scale of this crisis is unprecedented,” said Diallo. “We need coordinated action now to save lives and prevent irreversible damage to the health and development of Nigeria’s children.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has previously warned of similar trends, estimating that 600,000 children could be affected by SAM in the coming months if urgent steps are not taken.