U.S. $32.5M Lifeline: What America’s Support for WFP Means for Nigeria’s Hunger Crisis
By Matthew Eloy
The United States has once again reaffirmed its role as Nigeria’s most dependable humanitarian partner with a new $32.5 million contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP). The funds, announced in Abuja by the U.S. Embassy, are expected to provide food and nutrition support to more than 764,000 people across conflict-affected parts of the Northeast and Northwest.
“The World Food Programme Nigeria, with U.S. Government’s contribution of 32.5 million dollars, will provide food assistance and nutrition support to internally displaced persons across conflict-affected areas,” the statement explained.
According to the U.S. Embassy, the package includes “complementary nutrition top-ups for 41,569 pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, and 43,235 children through electronic food vouchers.”
This intervention could not be timelier. Nigeria’s food security challenges have worsened due to prolonged conflicts, climate-related shocks, and rising food prices. Millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, and parts of the Northwest are trapped in cycles of hunger, often with little access to adequate nutrition.
The U.S. remains the single largest donor to the WFP globally, contributing over $2.9 billion in 2023 alone. Its latest support to Nigeria demonstrates both humanitarian commitment and strategic interest in regional stability. Hunger, after all, is not just a social issue—it is a driver of conflict, displacement, and insecurity.
WFP’s role goes far beyond handing out food. As the UN’s food-assistance arm, it works in more than 120 countries, combining emergency relief with long-term resilience programmes such as school feeding, nutrition for mothers and children, and community rebuilding. In 2020, WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize for its global efforts to fight hunger and prevent its weaponisation in conflict zones.
The U.S. donation comes at a time when humanitarian needs are surging. With inflation eroding household incomes and insecurity limiting agricultural production, food insecurity has spread beyond the Northeast to other regions. The WFP’s reliance on voluntary contributions also means that without such interventions, millions of Nigerians risk being left behind.
Beyond the humanitarian optics, this funding is a reminder of the complex link between food and peace. By stabilising vulnerable populations, the U.S. and WFP hope to prevent further unrest in areas already plagued by conflict.
Ultimately, while $32.5 million is significant, the scale of Nigeria’s food crisis suggests that much more will be required—both in emergency relief and in sustainable agricultural investments—to break the cycle of hunger.