The Federal Government, in collaboration with international humanitarian partners, has launched an appeal for US$516 million to provide life-saving assistance to 2.5 million vulnerable people in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states in 2026.
The appeal is outlined in Nigeria’s 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) and focuses on the most critical humanitarian cases in the conflict-affected North-East, where women and children account for nearly 80 per cent of those in severe need.
The humanitarian situation in the BAY states has been compounded by a 16-year insurgency, prolonged displacement, limited access to basic services, climate-related shocks, economic hardship and dwindling livelihood opportunities.
Speaking at the launch of the plan in Abuja, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, warned that humanitarian needs are rising at a time when global funding is declining. He cautioned that delays in mobilising resources could have deadly consequences, particularly for malnourished children.
Projections indicate that about three million Nigerian children under the age of five may suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2026, with approximately one million of them living in the BAY states. In addition, nearly 35 million Nigerians are expected to face acute food insecurity during the 2026 lean season, including about 5.8 million people in the North-East.
The 2026 HNRP places strong emphasis on transitioning to nationally led humanitarian action, reflecting the reality of shrinking international humanitarian financing. The plan underscores the need for stronger collaboration between government institutions and humanitarian actors to sustain assistance and build resilience during this transition.
In his remarks, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to leading and coordinating humanitarian responses. He said government efforts would prioritise aligning emergency interventions with broader national reforms on poverty reduction, human capital development and community resilience.
Governors of the BAY states — Babagana Zulum of Borno, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe — also pledged closer cooperation with humanitarian partners to ensure the effective delivery of urgent assistance while pursuing durable, long-term solutions for displaced and conflict-affected populations.
Humanitarian officials noted that funding shortfalls in previous response plans, including the 2025 HNRP, had constrained the scale of assistance, underscoring the urgency of securing adequate resources for 2026.
