As many as 16.99 million Nigerians could require urgent food assistance by January 2027.

This projection comes from the latest Food Assistance Outlook Brief released by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network.

The report estimates that between 16 million and 16.99 million people will face acute hunger early next year. Although the figure is lower than the current July 2026 estimate of up to 20.99 million people, it remains higher than the number recorded in January 2026 and above Nigeria’s five-year average.

Nigeria ranks fourth globally among countries expected to have the highest number of people needing urgent food aid by January 2027. It trails Sudan, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Analysts say the slight improvement is largely due to the expected December harvest. However, food insecurity is projected to remain severe in several parts of the country, especially in conflict-affected areas of the North-East and North-West.

Persistent insecurity, high food prices, and limited access to farmland continue to drive the crisis. Experts warn that without sustained efforts to improve security and support farming communities, millions of Nigerians will continue to struggle with hunger in the months ahead.

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