LEAN Season: UN seeks $159.3m to tackle acute malnutrition in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe
The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has joined the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Malick Fall, to launch the 2025 Lean Season Response Plan for Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) States.
The Lean Season Food Security and Nutrition Crisis Multisector Plan aimed to tackle acute malnutrition in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The 2025 lean season food security and nutrition plan for Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states was launched on Tuesday at the United Nations (UN) House Auditorium, Abuja.
The event, which was attended by government representatives, international partners, including members of the diplomatic corps, highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in the North-East region and the need to mobilise critical funding of $159.3 million to alleviate this impending calamity.
Approximately 4.6 million people in the BAY states will face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity during the peak of the lean season from June to September, according to the Government-led Cadre Harmonisè food security analysis of March 2025.
Delivering his keynote address, Professor Nentawe appreciated UN for the timely intervention to save the lives of children and vulnerable people in the BAY states.
He said the Federal Government is concerned about the humanitarian crisis bedevilling the North-East region which has battled prolonged insecurity. He assured that the government is working tirelessly to provide durable and sustainable solutions that would alleviate the menace of malnutrition and eradicate hunger.
He said, “Let me be clear; the Federal Government will lead from the front — not just in coordinating this response but in ensuring alignment with national policy, clarity of roles, and accountability of outcomes. We will support state structures, empower frontline actors, and ensure every kobo is traceable and impactful.
“But this plan is not just about structures and strategies. It is about a promise — that no child in Borno, Adamawa, or Yobe should have to sleep hungry when the world has enough food; that no mother should lose a child to a condition we know how to treat, and that dignity must never be a casualty of conflict or poverty,” the Minister said.
In his opening remarks, Malick Fall stressed the need for funding and resources from member states, government, the private sector, and donors for critical interventions and to urgently address the alarming humanitarian needs of the region.
He said, “Our response must be swift and impactful. Our compassion and solidarity must be steadfast. We must not fail, as the consequences are too awful to contemplate.
“Humanitarianism is under threat; solidarity is in short supply and lack of resources are putting millions at risk. Many of those children, whose lives can be lost. Hope that if we act fast, we will save them and the lives of vulnerable people who we know will struggle to feed themselves in the coming months.
Read also: Rebuilding the North East: Leadership, vision and the road to recovery, by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Fall revealed that over 30 million people across Nigeria are at risk of acute food insecurity. Many of whom are mothers forced to forgo meals to feed their children.
“In the BAY states alone, we estimate that 4.6 million people will be acutely food insecure during the lean season.
“In Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, 1 million children under the age of five are at risk of life-threatening, severe acute malnutrition. This is double the number of children that were impacted last year and more than a quadrupling in less than five years.
“Funding cuts have impacted access to lifesaving nutrition services for at least 40 per cent of the 2.3 million children and women in need of these services across these three states.
Joining the event virtually, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, appreciated the UN, Federal Government and relevant partners for the timely humanitarian operations in the state.
He said the humanitarian crisis has worsened in local government areas like Madagali, Michika and some parts of Hong.
Coupled with the resurgence of terrorist activities and flooding, Fintiri said alot of people are in need of severe humanitarian assistance.
In his goodwil remarks, Yobe State Governor, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, CON, represented by the Executive Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Goje Mohammed, assured of the state government’s support and relentless efforts to tackle malnutrition crisis in the state.
Dr Goje said despite the security challenges, Governor Buni remains committed to deploy coordinated action and welcomes collaboration with humanitarian interventions inorder to break the cycle of crisis.
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