Nigeria Faces Severe Hunger Crisis with 17 Million at Risk by 2027

Nigeria is on the brink of a severe hunger crisis, with nearly 17 million people projected to face acute food insecurity by January 2027, according to a new report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). The alarming figures, published in the July 2026 Food Assistance Outlook Brief, highlight the compounding effects of conflict, economic instability, and climate related disruptions on the country's food systems. The crisis threatens to deepen malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations in northern regions.

The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a leading provider of early warning and analysis on food insecurity, has projected that 16.99 million Nigerians will experience acute hunger by early 2027. The data, obtained by Sunday PUNCH, underscores a worsening crisis driven by multiple overlapping factors, including armed conflict, inflation, and climate shocks such as droughts and floods.

The report identifies northern Nigeria as the hardest hit region, where ongoing insurgencies and banditry have disrupted agricultural activities and displaced millions. Economic pressures, including rising food prices and currency devaluation, have further eroded households' ability to afford basic necessities. FEWS NET warns that without urgent intervention, the situation could deteriorate into a full blown humanitarian emergency.