A drastic reduction in humanitarian aid to Nigeria’s conflict-ridden north-east could inadvertently strengthen Boko Haram, one of the world’s most notorious militant groups, aid agencies have warned. With critical funding cuts, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) is now unable to provide basic support to thousands of displaced persons, and the situation is growing dire.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
In recent months, the WFP has been forced to ration aid, and now its reserves have run dry. Trust Mlambo, the WFP’s head of operations in the region, shared his concerns with BBC News, stating, “It will be much easier for militants to lure youths to join them and spiral insecurity across the whole region.”
Boko Haram, infamous for the 2014 abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, has been responsible for displacing more than a million people in north-eastern Nigeria. The group, which originated as a radical Islamist movement in the early 2000s, now operates across several countries, including Nigeria’s neighbours, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. Classified as one of the deadliest jihadist organisations worldwide, Boko Haram’s destructive impact continues to reverberate throughout the region.
Desperation Fuels Recruitment
As food insecurity worsens, desperation among displaced populations is increasing. In Gwoza, a garrison town serving as a refuge for many, the town’s residents face the peril of Boko Haram insurgents living in the surrounding hills and forests. One resident, Aisha Abubakar, who has lost much of her family to the conflict, explained, “I could never go back to the village. Life in the village was unbearable, we were always on the run.”
Aisha, a mother of four, has found temporary solace in Gwoza’s displaced persons camp, but the resources available to her are barely enough to meet her family’s needs. With $20 provided as part of the aid programme, she managed to purchase a sack of maize, but she acknowledges it will not last the month. She told the BBC, “I am grateful for the money, but it is not enough to feed my family.”
The Cost of Aid Cuts
As the WFP’s support dwindles, the US State Department has confirmed that recent cuts to international aid have been part of a broader reorganisation, following the America First policy under former President Donald Trump. However, the US continues to fund about 80% of the WFP’s operations, though overall global support has decreased significantly this year.
The repercussions are already evident. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that severe malnutrition among children has more than doubled in the first half of 2025, with over 650 children dying in MSF’s facilities due to a lack of timely medical intervention. According to MSF’s Ahmed Aldikhari, the crisis has surpassed all expectations. “The true scale of the crisis is catastrophic,” he stated. “The nutritional needs of this region far exceed what we anticipated.”
Fears for the Future
With vital aid programmes scaling down, many of the region’s clinics that treat malnutrition are set to close. In Gwoza, many displaced families depend on humanitarian support to survive, and without it, their options are limited. Hauwa Badamasi, a mother whose child, Amina, is suffering from malnutrition, expressed despair over the loss of aid. “The aid has stopped, and people are killed on the farm. What are we going to do with our lives?” she lamented.
The escalating crisis presents a grave danger for the stability of the region, and there are fears that as more displaced people face hunger, they may be forced to turn to Boko Haram militants for survival. Trust Mlambo warned, “If people here feel that their livelihood is gone, they will be pushed to join the insurgents. They will have no choice.”
A Bleak Outlook
Despite the Nigerian government’s recognition of the severe malnutrition crisis — with Vice President Kashim Shettima acknowledging that “40% of Nigerian children under five are deprived of their full physical and cognitive potential” due to malnutrition — questions remain about how quickly and effectively the government can respond to this escalating disaster.
In Gwoza, where life for many residents is a daily struggle, the loss of aid is only worsening their situation. Aisha Abubakar, like many others, remains uncertain about the future. “It’s hard to rebuild a life after so much loss. I am scared for what’s to come,” she said.
With funding shortages and humanitarian programmes on the brink of collapse, the outlook for north-east Nigeria appears increasingly grim. The international community’s failure to address the urgent needs of those displaced by Boko Haram may not only prolong their suffering but could potentially provide the militants with the very recruits they need to continue their reign of terror across the region.