The Nigerian Red Cross Society has raised serious concern over the worsening malnutrition crisis affecting children across northern Nigeria, revealing that an estimated 5.4 million children are currently malnourished in nine northern states.
The alarming figure was disclosed during a recent press briefing in Abuja, where officials warned that the situation, if left unaddressed, could lead to a major humanitarian disaster.
“We are facing a silent emergency. These are not just numbers—these are children whose lives are at risk due to hunger, poverty, and displacement,” said Dr. Fatima Adamu, a nutrition specialist with the Red Cross.
The affected states include Katsina, Kano, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Bauchi—regions already grappling with the devastating impact of insecurity, inflation, climate change, and poor healthcare access.
According to the Red Cross, the crisis is being driven by a combination of armed conflict, particularly in the North-East, mass displacement, loss of farmland due to banditry, and the rising cost of food and fuel.
Field volunteers and health workers report seeing a growing number of children with visible signs of severe acute malnutrition including stunted growth, skeletal appearance, and weakened immune systems.
“Mothers walk long distances to health centers with babies who are too weak to cry,” said Aisha Danlami, a Red Cross volunteer in Borno. “In some villages, there is no food left, only hope.”
The humanitarian agency is calling on the government, international donors, and non-governmental organizations to scale up emergency nutrition programs, distribute fortified food and support local food production to reverse the crisis.
The Red Cross also emphasized the need for more funding, improved security, and better coordination among stakeholders working in the region.
As Nigeria faces one of its worst food security crises in recent history, the lives of millions of children hang in the balance—awaiting not just relief, but decisive action.
