August 18, 2025 – Tanko Sununu, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has raised concerns about the suspension of key activities of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Sununu said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration remains committed to addressing poverty and hunger challenges facing millions of Nigerians.
According to the minister, the World Food Programme is struggling with a funding gap that has placed over 300,000 children in Borno State at risk of starvation. He explained that the agency requires 130 million dollars before December to stabilize the situation.
“About 300,000 children are currently at risk of starvation in Borno State due to the cancellation of that World Food Programme support,” Sununu stated.
The minister further clarified that the crisis extends beyond the 300,000 children at immediate risk. “It’s not only 300,000. Yes, that’s true. But the whole thing is the World Food Programme has 10 activities in Nigeria with five outcomes. One of the major activities is the emergency transfer of food and prevention of malnutrition or even treatment. That is considered 70 percent of the activities and that is what they are suspending. And that is also another serious funding gap,” he said.
Sununu noted that 1.3 million Nigerians are in urgent need of food and humanitarian support. He added that if funding is secured, the programme could provide relief not only to those 1.3 million but also to an additional 575,000 Nigerians.
He stressed that the federal government, under the leadership of President Tinubu and in partnership with the Office of the Vice President, is working with the World Food Programme to find a lasting solution.
“We have acted and we are working on definitely getting things sorted out together with the World Food Programme,” Sununu assured.