The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sounded a fresh warning over the worsening hunger crisis in northeast Nigeria, where over 3.7 million people are currently battling severe food insecurity due to ongoing conflict and displacement.
In a statement released on Monday, the ICRC revealed that thousands of farming communities once the backbone of local food supply have been uprooted by years of insurgency and banditry, forcing families to abandon their farmland and struggle for survival.
The crisis has also crippled fishing activities around Lake Chad and major rivers, while traditional pastoralist routes and grazing lands have been severely disrupted, cutting off the livelihoods of herders and livestock farmers.
“Right now, we face severe food shortages; some families are forced to walk long distances every day to collect firewood to sell, just to afford food,” said Modu Umar, a community leader in Dikwa, highlighting the dire reality faced by many.
According to the ICRC, the deepening hunger has worsened malnutrition rates, particularly among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women. The situation has also pushed more children into child labour, early marriages and out-of-school situations in already vulnerable communities.
“This is when households must start purchasing food, but many conflict-affected families can’t afford much. They are forced to drastically limit their intake,” said Diana Japaridze, Head of the ICRC office in Maiduguri, noting that the ongoing lean season the period between planting and harvest is further stretching families to the limit.
30.6 Million May Go Hungry
The warning aligns with earlier projections by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Cadre Harmonisé, which estimated that 30.6 million Nigerians across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory could face severe food and nutrition insecurity between June and August 2025.
States in the northeast, especially Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe, remain the hardest hit as years of conflict continue to prevent farmers from cultivating their land safely.
Despite efforts, a cut in relief funding has also put additional pressure on humanitarian groups trying to provide lifesaving support.
“There’s an urgent need for collective action to address the escalating food and nutrition insecurity affecting millions of vulnerable children and families across Nigeria,” warned Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, earlier this year.
ICRC Steps Up Support
In response, the ICRC says it has stepped up support for farming communities through malnutrition stabilisation centres and agricultural assistance. This year alone, over 21,000 households have received seeds for both rainy and dry season farming, along with planting tools to reduce labour burdens and increase yields.
Crops such as rice, maize, tomatoes and okra are being distributed to boost dietary diversity and food security. Farmers are also receiving training in sustainable farming practices to ensure resilience after humanitarian support ends.
Additionally, in partnership with the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), the ICRC has completed repairs on a critical water source to sustain local seed testing and greenhouse operations.
Reacting to the ICRC’s latest alarm, the Director-General of the Northeast Governors’ Forum, Umar Musa Gulani, told 9am News that the forum had yet to officially receive the report but confirmed they are in close partnership with the ICRC.
“We are working hand in hand with the ICRC, and I have a way of obtaining the report directly from them to confirm its authenticity. Once we review it, we will get back to you,” Gulani said.
As the lean season deepens and conflict persists, the call for urgent, multi-sectoral intervention grows louder, with millions of Nigerians waiting for relief and lasting solutions.
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