23.4 million additional children could fall into monetary poverty by year-end if the Middle East war continues, UNICEF said, warning that Nigerian children are already seeing worsening malnutrition and food insecurity.
1,400 naira per liter fuel in April, up from 800 naira in February, followed the Strait of Hormuz disruption and pushed up food, transport and fertilizer costs across Nigeria.
Nearly 40 previously treated children in one Sokoto hospital have returned for malnutrition care since February, according to records shared with AP, as health workers report more relapses across northern Nigeria.
139 million Nigerians are now poor or vulnerable to poverty, a World Bank report said, with the fuel shock compounding Tinubu-era subsidy cuts, currency devaluation and insecurity that already strain the north.
Northern farming communities also face pricier fertilizer and limited access to fields because of armed conflict, raising risks of deeper hunger, stunting and school dropouts for children.
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Nigeria’s Children at Risk: The 2026 Surge in Poverty and Malnutrition Amid Global and Domestic Crises
Overview
The report highlights how the escalating conflict in the Middle East, especially the Iran war, has triggered global economic shocks that are pushing millions of children into deeper poverty and threatening to undo years of development progress. Nigeria, despite having Africa’s largest refinery, is not shielded from the global oil shock, leading to surging fuel prices and a sharp rise in the cost of living. This crisis is having immediate and severe effects on Nigerian households, with rising costs of food and essentials causing increased malnutrition among children. The situation underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to protect vulnerable families and safeguard children’s futures.