NIGERIA 2026 Lean Season (An Unprecedented Food and Nutrition Crisis) Advocacy Note

Country: Nigeria Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Please refer to the attached file. Communities across Nigeria are bracing for one of the worst lean seasons on record. Millions of families will be forced to reduce meals, sell productive assets and withdraw children from school. Almost 35 million people nationwide are expected to face acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, making Nigeria one of the world's largest hunger crises, with the burden falling overwhelmingly on northern Nigeria. The risk of excess mortality from hunger, malnutrition and disease rises sharply between June and August, and urgent, front loaded funding is required to scale up life saving assistance ahead of peak needs. Urgent humanitarian action is needed to address immediate life-saving needs while Government and development actors work to address the root causes of the hunger crisis.

Original source: Relief Web