The humanitarian crisis in Nigeria is worsening as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned of a $160 million (₦240bn) funding shortfall that could cripple life-saving interventions across the country.
During the 2025 World Humanitarian Day commemoration in Maiduguri, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Francis Butichi, revealed that the organisation had received only $95 million out of the $255 million required for operations this year, leaving a staggering 67% deficit.
“We are all aware of the global funding cut that has threatened humanitarian operations across the world. The impact is profoundly crushing at the local level, where conflict, climate change and disease outbreaks are recurrent,” Butichi said.
He warned that many communities in North-East Nigeria are already suffering from flooding, displacement, and declining services in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
UNICEF’s Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Nigeria
Despite the financial gap, UNICEF has continued to provide critical support in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria:
- Delivered health services to more than 1.3 million people.
- Treated 340,000 children for severe acute malnutrition.
- Supplied safe drinking water to 185,000 people.
- Enrolled 500,000 displaced children in schools.
Why Urgent Support is Needed
UNICEF has urged the Nigerian government, private sector, and international donors to increase investment in local governments and civil society organisations working on the frontlines. Without immediate funding, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and displacement will continue to escalate.
For Nigeria, which is already grappling with flooding, poor infrastructure, and housing shortages, strengthening humanitarian responses is critical. (See also: Nigeria’s Housing Crisis and Flooding in Nigeria and Its Impact on Infrastructure).
Conclusion
The warning from UNICEF underscores the urgent need for stronger global and local commitment. Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Nigeria requires collaboration, funding, and long-term planning to protect the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families.
