By Chiaka Orjiako WFP NIGERIA
As food insecurity reaches alarming levels across northern Nigeria, the Government of Japan has provided critical support to help vulnerable families facing extreme hunger through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Years of conflict, displacement and economic hardship have devastated livelihoods in the Northeast, leaving millions dependent on humanitarian assistance. Ongoing insecurity, coupled with rising fuel prices and the soaring cost of essential commodities, has made it increasingly difficult for many households to secure even one full meal a day.
Japan’s contribution is helping WFP deliver lifesaving food assistance to vulnerable communities in the conflict-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, where prolonged violence has disrupted farming, markets and local economies.
For Hadiza, a 30-year-old widow from Borno and mother of four, the assistance 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. This food assistance is a lifeline for my little ones and me,” she said.
According to Itaru Furata, WFP Nigeria’s Programme Policy Officer, Japan’s intervention has come at a crucial time when millions of people across northern Nigeria are experiencing unprecedented levels of hunger.
He urged other international donors to emulate Japan by supporting humanitarian efforts aimed at saving the lives of the most vulnerable populations.
Despite worsening insecurity, WFP says it continues to provide emergency food assistance and other humanitarian interventions to communities affected by conflict, displacement and climate shocks. For the past decade, the organisation has maintained operations across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, helping to stabilise communities while promoting resilience and long-term recovery.
The agency warned that shrinking humanitarian support could have far-reaching consequences beyond hunger, including worsening instability, increased displacement and heightened vulnerability to recruitment by armed groups.
It stressed that sustained food assistance remains essential not only for saving lives but also for strengthening community stability and supporting local markets at a time when humanitarian needs continue to grow.
