The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has expressed deep concern over the alarming rate of malnutrition in Nigeria’s North East, revealing that 3.7 million children in the region are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.
This revelation was made in a statement by FAO’s Communication Specialist, David Tsokar, and shared via email with The PUNCH on Thursday.
The statistic was highlighted during a high-level roundtable discussion organized by the Borno State Government in partnership with FAO to promote the Tom Brown initiative, aimed at addressing malnutrition through local food solutions.
The event, held at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday, drew participants from federal ministries, UN agencies, donor organizations, and NGOs, all reaffirming their commitment to tackling food insecurity in the region.
Speaking at the event, the Nutrition Sector Coordinator for the Northeast Nutrition Sector, John Mukisa, warned of the dire situation, stating, “An alarming 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic. Investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States an estimated USD 120 million annually.”
The discussion came against the backdrop of a worsening food crisis in Nigeria.
According to recent Cadre Harmonisé projections, 25 million Nigerians are currently food insecure, a figure that could surge to 33.1 million across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory between June and August 2025.
Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Gana, emphasized the urgency
