Fuel price hikes compound hunger crisis in Nigeria – UN

The United Nations claims that the fight against extreme hunger in Nigeria, particularly in Northern Nigeria, has escalated due to rising energy prices brought on by the elimination of fuel subsidies.

Matthias Schmale, the top UN humanitarian representative in Nigeria, revealed this on Wednesday in Geneva.

He disclosed that 700,000 children under five who are at risk of life-threatening malnutrition, which has doubled in size in the past year, are among the 4.3 million people in Nigeria’s Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states who are at risk of acute hunger.

Severe Hunger

According to Mr Matthias Schmale, 4.3 million people in Nigeria’s Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are suffering from extreme hunger. He also said that he has witnessed moms struggling for their emaciated children’s lives in nutrition stabilization centres.

In addition, he stated that 700,000 children under the age of five were now at risk of severe acute malnutrition, which may be fatal.

“I have been to Borno and the other two states several times. I’ve seen mothers fighting for the lives of their malnourished children in nutrition stabilisation centres.
“Those of us who are parents must imagine what it’s like when you cannot ensure your children have enough to eat,” he said.

He cautioned that the “catastrophic” situation is primarily the result of more than ten years of insecurity linked to non-State armed groups, which prevents people from farming and earning a living from the land. He also mentioned other side effects including extreme weather impacts, such as flooding in Nigeria that affected more than 4.4 million people nationwide.

Soaring Energy Prices

The report also noted that the soaring prices of food, fuel and fertilisers have exacerbated the crisis, and the response remains severely underfunded, urging that of the $1.3 billion in humanitarian funding needed for the region, only 25 per cent has been secured so far.

Fighting Hunger

In order to tackle the nation’s escalating hunger, the World Food Programme (WFP) has established a $2.5 billion Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Nigeria.

The plan’s main goal is to combat hunger and malnutrition in a few areas, especially in the Northeast and Northwest.

The five-year plan (2023-2027) aims to enhance nutrition and attain food security in Nigeria by 2030, which is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2). Additionally, it emphasizes the significance of gender equality, education, health and well-being, and climate action.

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