Nigeria’s Deepening Crisis: Jihadist Violence and Economic Woes Push Millions to Brink of Famine
A resurgence of jihadist violence and widespread instability in northern Nigeria is creating a catastrophic hunger crisis, with the United Nations warning that nearly 35 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity.
Famine-Like Conditions Emerge in Conflict Epicenter
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), the situation is most dire in Borno state, the epicenter of a 16-year-long jihadist insurgency, where approximately 15,000 people are now projected to face “catastrophic hunger”—a classification synonymous with famine-like conditions. This conflict has already claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced around two million people, creating a protracted humanitarian disaster that shows no signs of abating.
A Perfect Storm of Violence and Economic Collapse
The crisis is being fueled by a dangerous convergence of factors. While the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast continues, the country is also grappling with rampant violence from so-called “bandit” gangs in the northwest and central regions. The beginning of 2024 has seen a significant uptick in attacks, including a spate of mass kidnappings targeting schools and places of worship.
This escalating violence coincides with Nigeria’s most severe economic crisis in decades. President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, while praised by international financial institutions, have triggered double-digit inflation, making basic foodstuffs unaffordable for millions. The period from May to September, known as the lean season, is particularly perilous as it falls between planting and harvest, depleting the already strained food reserves of rural communities.
Aid Systems Crumbling as Need Skyrockets
Just as the need for assistance reaches unprecedented levels, the international aid infrastructure is facing severe cutbacks. The WFP, which supports almost a million people in northeastern Nigeria alone, is confronting critical funding shortfalls. These financial constraints have forced the agency to begin scaling down its vital nutrition programs.
The consequences are stark: 150 of the 500 nutrition centers operated by the WFP in the northeast were forced to close at the end of July, placing over 300,000 children at direct risk and pushing malnutrition levels from “serious” to “critical.”
“Communities are under severe pressure from repeated attacks and economic stress,” said WFP’s representative in Nigeria, David Stevenson. “Families are being pushed closer to the edge, and the need for support is rising.”
A Regional Threat Intensifies
Compounding the internal strife, the security threat is evolving. Late last month, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for its first attack on Nigerian soil, signaling a potential expansion of the regional jihadist network and further complicating the security landscape.
This report is based on information from the original article by The Guardian Nigeria.