The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over a looming humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, citing a funding shortfall of over N240bn for life-saving projects.
During the 2025 World Humanitarian Day in Maiduguri, UNICEF’s Francis Butichi revealed that only $95m of the required $255m had been received, leaving a 67% gap. The shortfall threatens health, nutrition, water, and education services, especially in conflict-affected northern states.
Despite the funding cuts, UNICEF said it has reached 1.3 million people with health services, treated 340,000 children for malnutrition, provided safe water for 185,000 residents, and enrolled 500,000 displaced children in schools.
Butichi urged governments, donors, and the private sector to step in:
“Life-saving nutrition, immunisation, and protection services must not stop,” he said.
Some northern states, including Gombe, Kebbi, and Sokoto, said they had made budgetary provisions and counterpart funding to sustain UNICEF-backed programmes. However, Jigawa officials admitted the crisis could still affect critical services like vaccination, clean water, and nutrition.
With floods, displacement, and disease outbreaks already worsening conditions, UNICEF warned that urgent support is needed to protect Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities.
