By admin Nigeria remains at the centre of one of the world’s most severe food crises, with 34.7 million people projected to face acute food insecurity by mid-2026, according to the United Nations.
More than 5.4 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, highlighting the scale of the emergency.
In response, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a three-year Emergency and Resilience Plan (ERP) for Nigeria, aimed at restoring food production, protecting livelihoods and strengthening resilience in vulnerable communities.
The plan, launched between 11 and 16 February 2026 in Abuja and Maiduguri, requires $347m (£275m) to support 12.6 million people across some of the country’s hardest-hit regions.
These include conflict-affected states in the northeast such as Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Taraba, as well as north-western states including Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara. Communities in north-central states such as Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau and Kogi are also targeted.
The FAO says the programme is designed to address both immediate humanitarian needs and longer-term recovery.
It is built around four key pillars: emergency agricultural support, resilience building, agrifood value chain development and improved data and early warning systems.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr Hussein Gadain, described agriculture as a “life-saving intervention”.
“When we support farmers, pastoralists, fishers, and agro-processors with timely inputs, services and market access, we protect food production, reduce dependency on food aid, stabilise local markets and create employment, especially for women and youth,” he said.
The agency says strengthening agriculture will help reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance while promoting economic growth and social stability.
The Nigeria plan forms part of FAO’s wider Global Emergency and Resilience Appeal 2026, a $2.5bn initiative launched in December 2025.
The global appeal aims to assist more than 100 million people across 54 countries facing severe food insecurity through agricultural support and resilience programmes.
Senior FAO Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer Dunja Dujanovic said the Nigeria plan comes at a critical time.
“It offers solutions which aim to not only address immediate needs but decrease those needs over time,” she said.
Before the official launch, FAO held consultations with government officials, donors and development partners, including Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Field visits were also carried out in Borno State, where FAO representatives met local authorities and programme beneficiaries.
The discussions highlighted the importance of agriculture in addressing the country’s food crisis and emphasised the need for coordinated action between government and humanitarian partners.
Years of conflict, climate shocks and economic pressures have disrupted farming and displaced millions, particularly in northern Nigeria.
The FAO says investing in agriculture is key to helping communities recover and build long-term resilience.
However, the agency warned that the success of the plan will depend on sustained financial support and strong partnerships.
It has called on donors and development partners to increase funding to ensure vulnerable communities receive both immediate assistance and long-term support.