Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Tanko Sununu, has raised concerns over Nigeria’s worsening humanitarian crisis, disclosing that over 3 million people remain internally displaced due to flooding, insecurity, and other natural disasters.
According to Sununu, who spoke during the inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Management and Response, millions of citizens are at risk of sliding deeper into hunger and malnutrition as global aid funding dwindles.
The minister noted that the combined effects of natural disasters, insecurity, and shrinking donor support have created a “critical humanitarian challenge” for the country, with over 24.8 million Nigerians suffering from some form of hunger.
Sununu also stated that poverty remains unevenly spread across the country, with the North accounting for about 65% of Nigeria’s poor population, and over 70% of them being smallholder farmers who have lost their farmlands and livelihoods to floods and droughts.
He said “Just a few days ago, the World Food Programme suspended some of its activities, which had supported more than 1.2 million Nigerians with emergency transfers in the North-East. This leaves over 300,000 children at risk of malnutrition, while more than 200,000 are already receiving treatment.”
According to United Nations estimates cited by the minister, over 24.8 million Nigerians have suffered some form of hunger, while more than 3 million people remain internally displaced as a result of flooding, insecurity, and other natural disasters.
He said the Federal Government is strengthening interventions through the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), including providing interest-free loans to smallholder farmers and conditional cash transfers to vulnerable households.
The minister commended the National Assembly for setting up a dedicated committee to oversee humanitarian interventions, expressing optimism that the move would strengthen transparency and improve the delivery of aid to affected communities.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by the Leader of the House, Julius Ihonbvere charged the committee to provide both immediate and long-term solutions to Nigeria’s recurring flood crisis, stressing that flooding is not just an environmental issue, but an economic, social, and humanitarian challenge.
The Speaker further directed the committee to pay special attention to legislative gaps hindering effective flood management.Where laws are weak, outdated, or insufficient, he said, the House stands ready to strengthen the legal framework to better protect Nigerians.
Earlier in a welcome address, Chairman of the newly constituted committee Maidala Balami said flooding had become more than a seasonal occurrence, describing it as a “national emergency that demands urgent, coordinated, and strategic action.
The committee chairman urged all stakeholders—including civil society, private sector, and international partners—to join efforts in developing a sustainable national response to flooding and humanitarian emergencies.
Balami pledged that the committee would investigate root causes, assess agency preparedness, engage stakeholders, and propose lasting measures to mitigate the impact of flooding across Nigeria.
