2026: Nigeria, Aid Partners Seek $516m To Support 2.5 Million Vulnerable People In North-East

The Nigerian Government, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, has launched an urgent appeal for US$516 million to deliver life-saving assistance to 2.5 million people affected by conflict and deprivation in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States in 2026.

The appeal is contained in Nigeria’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) and targets the most severe humanitarian cases in the conflict-affected northeast, where women and children account for nearly 80 per cent of those in critical need.

The humanitarian crisis in the BAY states has been worsened by a prolonged 16-year insurgency, widespread displacement, limited access to essential services, climate-related shocks, economic hardship, and shrinking livelihood opportunities.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, warned that humanitarian needs are escalating at a time of declining global funding. He noted that delays in closing funding gaps could have fatal consequences, especially for malnourished children.

According to projections, about 3 million Nigerian children under the age of five are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2026, with one million of them living in the BAY states. In addition, nearly 35 million Nigerians may face acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, including 5.8 million people in the north-east.

The 2026 HNRP places strong emphasis on a transition to nationally-led humanitarian action, as international funding continues to decline globally. The plan highlights the need for closer collaboration between government institutions and humanitarian actors to sustain assistance during this transition.

In his remarks, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leading and coordinating humanitarian responses.

He stated that government efforts would focus on aligning humanitarian action with national reforms aimed at poverty reduction, human capital development, and community resilience.

The Governors of the BAY states — Professor Babagana Zulum of Borno, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe — also pledged stronger cooperation with humanitarian partners to deliver urgent aid while pursuing long-term solutions for displaced and conflict-affected populations.

Funding for the 2025 HNRP stood at $282 million.