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Hungry People to Reach 49.5 million in Nigeria, Other West and Central African Countries in August 2024-WFP
Hungry People to Reach 49.5 million in Nigeria, Other West and Central African Countries in August 2024-WFP
By: Michael Mike
Hungry people in West and Central Africa including Nigeria may reach a staggering 49.5 million people between June and August 2024, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has raised the alarm.
The WFP in a statement on Tuesday said: Despite considerable efforts by governments and partners, food insecurity continues to worsen in West and Central Africa with the number of hungry people set to reach a staggering 49.5 million people between June and August 2024 – a four percent increase compared to 2023, according to a regional food security analysis which was released same day.
The statement read that: “The trend is particularly worrying in coastal countries, where the number of women, men, and children facing acute hunger (IPC/CH phases 3 or higher) is expected to reach 6.2 million during the June-August 2024 hunger gap – a 16 percent increase on last year. The November 2023 Cadre Harmonisé analysis projects cereal and tuber production throughout the region to be slightly above both last year’s levels and the 5-year average due to improved rains in 2023.”
According to the statement: Acute hunger in West and Central Africa is mainly driven by conflict – which has forcibly displaced millions of people from their homes and farms, the impact of the climate crisis, and high food and fuel prices. The prices of main foods remain well above the five-year average, particularly rice, corn, millet, sorghum, cassava and vegetable oil, despite seasonal declines in the prices of local commodities compared to last year.
The statement quoted WFP’s Acting Regional Director for Western Africa, Margot Vandervelden to have said:
“Acute hunger remains at record levels in the region, yet funding needed to respond is not keeping a pace; this is forcing WFP to scale back lifesaving assistance for those most affected in their hour of greatest need”, adding that: “Insufficient funding means the moderately hungry will be forced to skip meals and consume less nutritious food, putting them at risk of falling back into crisis or emergency phases, perpetuating the cycle of hunger and malnutrition. We need to break this circle by tackling the root causes of hunger and by building the resilience of families in West Africa.”
The statement added that the nutritional situation remains worrying, particularly in the Sahel, where emergency levels of child wasting were reached and surpassed in several countries this year, notably in parts of Mali, north-west Nigeria and Burkina Faso, it added that this was due to fragile food systems which do not deliver the specific nutritional needs of women and children; limited access to basic social services; and poor care and hygiene practices.
It noted that more than 2 out of 3 households in West and Central Africa cannot afford healthy diets. And 8 out of 10 children aged 6-23 months do not consume the minimum number of food groups they need for optimal growth and development. In the year up to the end of October 2023, 1.9 million children under five years were admitted for treatment of severe wasting across nine Sahel countries, representing a 20 percent increase as compared to the same period in 2022.
The UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Felicité Tchibindat said: “Children in West and Central Africa have a right to nutritious, safe, affordable and sustainable diets,” “We invest to prevent child malnutrition happening in the first place, but we also need funding to keep supporting government services for the early detection, treatment, and care of malnourished children to help them survive, recover, and go on to live healthy and productive lives with dignity.”
The statement stated that the cost of a daily nutritious diet in central Sahel (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) is 110 percent higher than the daily minimum wage in the region, and more and more households rely on local markets to provide their food, even in rural areas, according to the 2023 Food security and Nutrition report. For comparison, the cost of healthy diet in Africa is as high as in the USA, despite the latter GDP being more than 35 times that in the Africa region.
To address the spiralling food insecurity and malnutrition, FAO, UNICEF and WFP called on national government and financial partners to prioritize programmes that strengthen climate resilient food systems and livelihoods and invest in social protection systems, and improve natural resource management, including water, as an accelerator of resilience and development.
Participants in the Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis also recommended timely development and implementation of emergency programmes that address immediate food and nutritional needs of populations experiencing crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity and malnutrition (IPC/CH phases 3 to 5). This will not only save lives, but also prevent the risk of malnutrition among children in areas most affected by insecurity and economic crises including in Burkina Faso, Chad, DRC, Mali, Nigeria and Niger.
“With the persistence of food and nutritional insecurity, we must act urgently to save millions of lives by advocating for the acceleration of resource mobilization to finance national response plans and facilitate access to areas facing insecurity or difficult to access, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria”, said FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Robert Guei.
The Cadre Harmonisé analysis also showed an estimated 94 million people in West and Central Africa under food security “Stress” (IPC/CH phase 2) between October and December 2023. Left without support, these communities are at risk of shifting to “crisis” and “emergency” (IPC/CH phases 3 and 4) levels of hunger tomorrow.
Hungry People to Reach 49.5 million in Nigeria, Other West and Central African Countries in August 2024-WFP
News
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have arrested a suspected ISWAP/JAS logistics supplier and intercepted a large quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in a tricycle in Borno State.
Security sources said the suspect was apprehended at about 9:10 a.m. on April 21 by troops of 159 Battalion at a checkpoint within Sector 2 Area of Responsibility.

The suspect was reportedly conveying PMS concealed in 15 sacks, disguised with bags of sachet water in an attempt to evade detection.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignment was being transported to Kanama town and neighbouring communities around Dikwa and Bultuwa, areas believed to be within terrorist influence.
Items recovered from the suspect include a mobile phone and the sum of ₦34,950.
The sources said the suspect and recovered exhibits are in military custody for further investigation and necessary action.
They added that the interception forms part of ongoing operations aimed at disrupting terrorist logistics networks and denying them access to critical supplies across the North-East theatre.
Troops Intercept Suspected Terrorist Logistics Supplier, Seize PMS in Borno
News
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have repelled a Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist infiltration into Kanama town, neutralising four insurgents during a swift response operation in Borno State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on April 22 when troops of 159 Battalion, deployed in Kanama, responded to sounds of gunfire within the town.

On arrival, the troops reportedly discovered that terrorists had infiltrated parts of the community.
The troops immediately made contact and engaged the attackers with disciplined fire, forcing them to retreat in disarray.
Subsequent exploitation of the general area led to the neutralisation of four terrorists.
One member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) sustained injuries during the encounter and has been evacuated for medical attention.

No military equipment was lost during the operation.
Items recovered from the terrorists include two torchlight mobile phones and the sum of ₦21,000.
Security sources said the general situation across the theatre remains calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high.
Troops Repel Terrorist Infiltration in Kanama, Neutralise Four Insurgents
News
UK–Nigeria Trade Mission Deepens Education, Skills Partnership
UK–Nigeria Trade Mission Deepens Education, Skills Partnership
By: Michael Mike
A high-level United Kingdom trade mission on education and skills has concluded a week-long skills and schools trade mission to Nigeria, laying a solid foundation for expanded collaboration in education and workforce development between both countries.
The mission, which ran from April 19 to 23 in Abuja and Lagos, brought together leading UK private schools, skills providers and education institutions with Nigerian stakeholders, including policymakers, investors and school operators.
Organised by the UK Department for Business and Trade, the engagement is part of the UK’s broader International Education Strategy, which identifies Nigeria as one of five priority markets for global education partnerships. The initiative is being championed by Steve Smith, who is expected to return to Nigeria later this year to sustain momentum.
The mission builds on diplomatic and educational engagements during a recent state visit to the United Kingdom in March, further reinforcing the growing importance of education within UK–Nigeria bilateral relations.

At the heart of discussions was the expansion of in-country delivery of British education, including the establishment of internationally recognised UK schools in Nigeria, as well as the development of industry-aligned skills programmes, particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
In Abuja, the delegation held high-level talks with Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, securing strong political backing for deeper institutional cooperation. Both sides explored pathways for partnerships that would strengthen Nigeria’s education system while equipping young people with skills tailored to labour market demands.
The delegation also visited several British curriculum schools and colleges in Abuja and Lagos, gaining first-hand insight into teaching standards and operational models already in place within Nigeria.
Speaking at the conclusion of the mission, British Deputy High Commissioner, Jonny Baxter, highlighted education as a key pillar of bilateral engagement.
“The UK and Nigeria share a deep and longstanding relationship, and opportunities in education are one of its most exciting frontiers,” he said, noting that the mission demonstrated “strong appetite on both sides to deepen collaboration.”
He added that connecting UK institutions with Nigerian partners would help build sustainable, in-country education systems, while positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for high-quality learning.
Also reflecting on the mission, Sarah Chidgey described the initiative as a practical demonstration of the UK’s education strategy in action.
According to her, progress in UK–Nigeria education collaboration has grown steadily since her first visit in 2022, with the current mission reinforcing mutual commitment to expanding access, quality, and innovation in the sector.
The delegation included representatives from prominent UK institutions such as Harrow International School, The King’s School Canterbury, Whitgift School, Bedford School, and Pearson, among others.
The mission concluded with a robust pipeline of follow-up activities, including one-on-one engagements, memorandum of understanding (MoU) discussions, and agreed next steps aimed at translating dialogue into tangible partnerships.
Analysts say the initiative signals a shift toward more structured and commercially viable education cooperation between both countries, with potential benefits spanning student mobility, local capacity building, and skills development aligned to Nigeria’s economic priorities.
With sustained engagement expected in the months ahead, stakeholders believe the mission could mark a turning point in positioning Nigeria as a major destination for international education investment in Africa.
UK–Nigeria Trade Mission Deepens Education, Skills Partnership
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