US Donates $32.5m to World Food Programme for Aid in Nigeria

The United States government has announced a fresh contribution of $32.5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support food and nutrition assistance in Nigeria.

The US Embassy in Abuja confirmed the donation on Wednesday, describing it as part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to ease the worsening hunger crisis in the country.

According to the embassy, the funding is targeted at vulnerable communities in the North-East and North-West, regions hardest hit by conflict and displacement. The support will benefit over 764,000 people, including internally displaced persons living in camps and host communities. It will also provide nutrition top-ups for more than 41,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, alongside 43,000 children, through electronic food vouchers designed to ensure access to essential food supplies.

The intervention comes at a critical time, as Nigeria grapples with soaring food insecurity.

The World Food Programme recently warned that nearly 31 million Nigerians are facing acute hunger, with over 1.3 million at risk of losing access to food aid due to funding shortfalls.

In Borno State alone, about 150 nutrition clinics are threatened with closure, putting more than 300,000 children in danger of severe malnutrition.

While welcoming the US contribution, humanitarian groups note that Nigeria’s $130 million aid appeal is still less than a quarter funded.

They warn that without urgent additional support, the crisis could deepen, leaving millions more exposed to hunger and malnutrition.

The latest donation underscores Washington’s continued partnership with the WFP and Nigeria in tackling humanitarian needs. However, aid agencies stress that more sustained funding and broader international collaboration are needed to bridge the gap and prevent the crisis from spiraling further out of control.