WFP Needs US$129 million for its Continuous Efforts in Nigeria

By Ene Okwanihe, Abuja

The World Food Programme says it is in urgent need of net funding of One hundred and twenty-nine million US Dollars (US$129 million) to support its life-saving and life-changing operations in Nigeria over the next five months (October 2022 to February 2023).

According to the WFP, while northeast Nigeria is in the grips of a dire humanitarian crisis, of hunger and humanitarian needs driven by conflict, displacement and widespread high food prices, climate shocks are increasing in frequency and intensity, leaving those affected no time to recover between disasters and crises.

The global food crisis, the WFP says is a confluence of competing crises, caused by climate shocks, conflict, and economic pressures that has continued to push up the number of food insecure people all around the world, including in Nigeria where 4.4 million people are facing food insecurity in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

Currently, the WFP says it is providing food assistance targeting 1.7 million people in northeast Nigeria.

Since June 2022, floods caused by torrential rains have swept through large swathes of land in 28 of the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The floods have affected about 3.48 million people, led to loss of lives and destroyed about 637,000 hectares of cropland.

In response, WFP is on the ground providing emergency assistance to those hard hit by the floods in Damaturu, Yobe State, which is one of the most flood-affected states in Nigeria.