The United States Government has contributed $32.5
million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to strengthen food and
nutrition interventions in Nigeria.
The donation, announced in a statement by Aishah
Gambari of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja on Wednesday, is aimed at providing
lifesaving assistance to vulnerable communities affected by conflict and food
insecurity.
“With this contribution of $32.5 million, WFP Nigeria
will deliver food assistance and nutrition support to internally displaced
persons in conflict-affected areas,” the statement read.
Beneficiaries in Northeast and Northwest
Nigeria
According to the Embassy, the funding will enable WFP
to reach 764,205 people across the Northeast and Northwest. This
includes 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, as well as 43,235
children, who will receive complementary nutrition top-ups through
electronic food vouchers.
WFP’s Global Role and U.S. Support
WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organization
dedicated to food security, is funded entirely by voluntary donations. The
United States is its largest single donor, contributing over $2.9 billion in
2023 alone.
Operating in more than 120 countries, WFP delivers
emergency food relief, nutrition projects for mothers and children, school
feeding programmes, and resilience-building initiatives to mitigate climate
shocks. In 2020, the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its
efforts to combat hunger and prevent its use as a weapon in conflict.
Nigeria’s Food Insecurity Challenge
The donation comes at a time when Nigeria faces
worsening hunger levels. In mid-2025, WFP warned that its food and nutrition
support for 1.3 million people in the Northeast could be suspended due
to severe funding shortfalls. The agency also estimated that nearly 31
million Nigerians were experiencing acute food insecurity, with over 300,000
children at risk of severe malnutrition if aid efforts were disrupted.
Between January and June 2025, Katsina State alone
recorded 652 child deaths from malnutrition, a surge linked to reduced
funding from international donors, including the U.S., U.K., and EU.
The latest U.S. contribution is expected to ease some of these challenges by supporting WFP’s ongoing operations in Nigeria.
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