According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), more than 25 million Nigerians could potentially experience severe hunger during the peak of the lean season, which falls between June and August this year.
WFP’s Country Director, David Stevenson, shared this forecast during the launch of the humanitarian agency’s new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday.
“As food insecurity continues to spike in Nigeria, over 25 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the June-August 2023 lean season.
“Permit me to say that humanitarian aid has not kept pace with this sharp rise in hunger levels,” Mr Stevenson said in his remarks.
The official stated that in 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing aid to approximately 2.1 million vulnerable individuals in Nigeria. This assistance includes food support, nutrition aid, cash payments, and livelihood projects, which aim to help the affected population rebuild their resilience in the face of conflict.
Furthermore, Mr Stevenson emphasized that the Comprehensive School Feeding Programme (CSP) is specifically designed to tackle hunger and malnutrition in various regions of Nigeria, particularly in the northeast and northwest. Additionally, it aims to foster a stronger partnership in enhancing the country’s humanitarian and development response, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The CSP is valued at US$2.56 billion and is designed to support Nigeria in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2),” he said.
