As food insecurity worsens across Nigeria, the Government of Japan has stepped in with fresh support to help millions of vulnerable people facing severe hunger in the country’s conflict-ridden northeast.
Through a contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Japan is providing critical food assistance to families displaced by years of violence, insecurity, and economic hardship in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states.
Northern Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the country’s worst humanitarian crises.
Prolonged conflict has forced millions from their homes, leaving many unable to farm or earn a living.
Rising fuel prices and the soaring cost of essential commodities have further compounded the crisis, with many households struggling to afford even one full meal a day.
For beneficiaries like Hadiza, a 30-year-old widow and mother of four from Borno State, the support has become a lifeline.
“After years of displacement and loss, the support I receive from WFP is helping me to care for my children and rebuild our lives,” she said. “This food assistance is a lifeline for my little ones and me.”
WFP Nigeria’s Programme Policy Officer, Itaru Furata, described Japan’s intervention as timely, saying millions of people in northern Nigeria are facing unprecedented levels of hunger.
“Japan’s support comes at a critical moment, offering much-needed assistance to families struggling to survive,” Furata said. “We do not take this support for granted and call on other donors to follow suit in joining our mission to save the lives of the most vulnerable.”
Despite escalating insecurity, WFP says it has continued to deliver emergency food assistance to communities hardest hit by conflict, displacement, and climate-related shocks.
The agency has maintained humanitarian operations across the BAY states for the past decade, helping communities whose food systems, markets, and livelihoods have been severely disrupted.
Beyond addressing immediate hunger, WFP noted that food assistance plays a critical role in promoting stability and preventing further humanitarian crises.
According to the organisation, inadequate support can increase displacement, heighten insecurity, and leave vulnerable people at greater risk of exploitation by armed groups.
As humanitarian needs continue to rise, WFP has appealed for greater support from donors and development partners, warning that scaling back food assistance at this critical time could have far-reaching consequences for both humanitarian relief efforts and regional stability.
