FG Laments Worsening Humanitarian Crisis, says 3m Displaced by Flood, Insecurity

By Fatima Ndagi

The federal government says Nigeria is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis with 3 million people internally displaced as a result of flooding, insecurity, and other natural disasters.

The Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Tanko Sununu has revealed that Nigeria is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis with over 3 million people internally displaced as a result of flooding, insecurity, and other natural disasters.

The Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Tanko Sununu disclosed this while speaking during the inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Management and Response on Monday.

The minister warned that millions of citizens risk sliding deeper into hunger and malnutrition as global aid funding decline

He explained that the combined effects of natural disasters, insecurity, and shrinking donor support have created a “critical humanitarian challenge” for the country.

He said : “Globally, humanitarian funding is shrinking, and Nigeria is not exempt,”

“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.” the minister added

Citing the United Nations estimates, the minister said that 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.

The minister disclosed that remains unevenly spread across the country with North accounting for about 65 per cent of Nigeria’s poor population. Of this 65 percent the minister said 70 percent are smallholder farmers whose farmlands and livelihoods have been destroyed by floods and droughts

“In response to the crisis, the Federal Government is strengthening interventions through the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP),” the minister added

He disclosed that under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), smallholder farmers have received interest-free loans of ₦300,000 each to help them recover from losses.

According to the minister, more than 5.9 million households—approximately 25 million Nigerians—have benefited from ₦419 billion in conditional cash transfers. The funds, he explained, are meant to cushion the impact of economic hardship and sustain vulnerable families.

“These efforts are part of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that Nigerians maintain dignity of life despite economic challenges,” the minister said. “With the support of the House of Representatives, we will continue to work to protect vulnerable households and restore livelihoods.”

The minister commended the National Assembly for setting up a dedicated committee to oversee humanitarian interventions. Adding that the move would strengthen transparency and improve the delivery of aid to affected communities.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the newly constituted committee Rep. Maidala Balami said flooding had become more than a seasonal occurrence, describing it as a “national emergency” that demands urgent, coordinated, and strategic action.

Balami said “Each year, lives are lost, properties destroyed, livelihoods disrupted, and the socio-economic fabric of entire communities severely affected.

“The time for piecemeal approaches is over. What we need is a comprehensive national framework—one that encompasses prevention, early warning systems, emergency response, community resilience, infrastructure development, and climate adaptation strategies.”

He pledged that the committee would investigate root causes, assess agency preparedness, engage stakeholders, and propose lasting measures to mitigate the impact of flooding across the country.

Inaugurating the Committee, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the Leader of the House Prof. Julius Ihonrbvere charged members to proffer both immediate and long-term solutions to Nigeria’s recurring flood crisis.

He said flooding has in recent years inflicted devastating losses on Nigerian communities, destroying livelihoods, displacing families, and undermining development efforts.

He tasked the committee to identify gaps in Nigeria’s preparedness and recommend a clear roadmap for national resilience against flooding.

Abbas urged the committee to work closely with key agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Ministries of Environment, Water Resources, Health, Works, and Housing, as well as state and local governments. He also highlighted the role of the Nigerian Space Agency in providing satellite imagery for effective flood mapping.

“Flood management requires the concerted involvement of all relevant stakeholders. Only a holistic and coordinated approach will ensure a sustainable response,” he emphasized

The Speaker directed the committee to identify legislative gaps hindering effective flood management. He reiterated that the House stands ready to strengthen the legal framework to better protect Nigerians