By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Nigeria International Non Governmental Organizations (INGO) Forum, said over 31 million people in Nigeria are facing acute food insecurity in 2025.
The Country Director of Save the Children International (SCI), Nigeria, Duncan Harvey, who led the discussion on behalf of the forum made this known during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
He added that the situation is the largest food crisis globally.
The forum further said, 5.4 million children suffer from acute malnutrition in Nigeria”.
“3.5 million children under five suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), out of which 1.2 million require immediate life-saving treatment.
“From October to December), an estimated 600,000 children under the age of five will be at risk of severe acide malnutrition (SAM) in six states in northern Nigeria: Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.
“Without access to lifesaving treatment, 96,000 of these children are likely to die. That is over 1.000 children dying every day.
“32% National prevalence on Stunting among children under-fives, and more than 50% in some areas in the Northwest Over 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of acute malnutrition.
“Hunger is not just a risk; it’s a crisis of rights. Food security and nutrition must be treated as non-negotiable for child survival, growth, and future productivity. No child should die from any preventable cause such as hunger, malnutrition or Illness.”
Speaking further, the forum said the challenges of food insecurity forced
the African Union Heads of State and Government in 2010, at the 15th Ordinary Session in Kampala, Uganda, to address the persistent crisis of hunger and malnutrition on the continent and declared October 30th of every year as Africa Food Security and Nutrition Day.
“This sixteenth Africa Food Security and Nutrition Day is a significant event that highlights the importance of food and nutrition security in Africa.
“Today, we gather not just to mark a day, but to strengthen momentum towards achieving food and nutrition security, discuss solutions and make recommendations on how to address the challenges of food insecurity and the ongoing danger of malnutrition in Nigeria.”
They further called on governments, donors, friends of Nigeria and partners to deliberately make funds available for lifesaving nutrition commodities like Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and Therapeutic Milk locally produced and proven to save lives.
They recommended long-term funding and Nexus approaches (linking humanitarian, peace, and development efforts) which they said are essential for sustained nutrition, security, and development.
“We demand stronger political commitment and policy enforcement to treat food and nutrition security as a fundamental human right.
“Severe malnutrition has irreversible impacts on physical growth, cognitive development, and economic productivity, critical to national human capital, hence, all hands should be decked to prevent it.
“Expand targeted support for the 800,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of acute malnutrition to safeguard maternal and infant health. Leverage on the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) to ensure we double the Impact on the lives of the vulnerable children.
“Adopt shock-responsive social safety nets to protect vulnerable households from future crises.
“Scale-up food assistance, nutrition treatment, and livelihood support.
“Support local production of fortified foods to ensure sustainability.”
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