IRC on Nigeria's President announcing Food State of Emergency

Abuja, Nigeria, July 17, 2023 -- Babatunde Ojei, IRC Nigeria Country Director, says:

"We welcome the recognition of the government on the state of food insecurity and its declaration by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, of a state of emergency over food. Nearly 25 million Nigerians are likely to go hungry between June and August 2023; malnutrition levels in northeast and northwest Nigeria continue at higher levels than this time last year or the previous four years, with nearly 2 million people receiving humanitarian food assistance in April 2023.

"Our frontline nutrition staff report that more than 90,000 children were treated for malnutrition in our centers in 2022. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the well-being of families affected by this widespread crisis.