Nigeria is set to benefit from a $32.5 million contribution by the United States government to the World Food Programme (WFP), aimed at boosting food and nutrition assistance for vulnerable populations.
The U.S. Embassy in Abuja, through spokesperson Aishah Gambari, confirmed the funding on Wednesday, noting that the support will provide critical food relief and nutrition aid to save lives.
With the new commitment, WFP Nigeria is expected to reach 764,205 people across the Northeast and Northwest, where communities continue to face the harsh impact of conflict and displacement. Among the beneficiaries are 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and 43,235 children, who will receive additional nutrition through electronic food vouchers.
The World Food Programme, which depends solely on voluntary contributions from governments, corporations, and individuals, remains the largest humanitarian food agency in the world. The United States is its leading donor, contributing more than $2.9 billion in 2023 alone.
WFP operates in over 120 countries, not only delivering emergency food assistance but also supporting long-term solutions such as school feeding, nutrition programs for mothers and children, and resilience-building against climate-related shocks. In recognition of its global impact, WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.
This intervention comes at a time of growing concern. Earlier in 2025, WFP warned it might be forced to suspend aid for 1.3 million people in northeastern Nigeria due to funding shortages. The agency also projected that 31 million Nigerians are at risk of acute food insecurity, while more than 300,000 children face severe malnutrition if aid is disrupted.
Between January and June 2025 alone, 652 children reportedly died from malnutrition in Katsina State, a grim indicator of how funding cuts by international donors, including the U.S., U.K., and European Union, are worsening the crisis.
