Nigeria: Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states - Situation Report, 20 Feb 2025

SITUATION OVERVIEW

UN and Partners Launch US$910 Million Humanitarian Appeal for North-East Nigeria in 2025

On 23 January, the United Nations, alongside the Nigerian Government, launched the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) in Abuja. The Plan seeks just over $910 million to address the humanitarian needs of 3.6 million people in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. Overall, 7.8 million people in these states are in need of humanitarian assistance.

According to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, humanitarian needs are “driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability,” with the compounding effects of flooding, disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and malnutrition deepening vulnerabilities. Mr. Fall was speaking in Abuja at the launch of the HNRP, where he was joined by the Federal Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda. The event was attended by high-level representatives of the diplomatic corps, senior officials from diverse Government agencies, as well as national and international non-governmental organizations.

Minister Yilwatda highlighted the growing humanitarian needs in north-west and north-central Nigeria. He called for combined humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts for that region as well. “This will enable us to get humanitarian efforts translated into durable solutions that can move people out of poverty and provide livelihoods to reach sustainable development,” he said.

Given the declining global funding for humanitarian efforts, the 2025 HNRP aims to enhance efficiency in aid delivery through reducing transaction costs, localizing the response, and innovation, including anticipatory action for disasters like floods and disease outbreaks. It also focuses on increasing direct funding for local partners and scaling up cash assistance for a more tailored response. The HNRP underlines the need to reform the operation to become more effective and efficient.

The Governors of the BAY states reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement with the UN and its partners. In 2025, 33 million Nigerians will face acute food insecurity country-wide during the lean season. Of these, 5.1 million people are in the BAY states alone. Millions of children will face severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition. Urgent funding is needed to provide food, nutrition, and other critical support.

• Link to press release
• Link to 2025 Nigeria HNRP

Borno State Government Commits to Increase Contributions to Address Child Malnutrition

As part of efforts to combat malnutrition, the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has committed to increasing the Borno State Government's (BSG) contribution to the Child Nutrition Match Fund—an initiative that helps national governments double their investment in preventing child malnutrition. The Governor made this commitment during a round table discussion on scaling up the use of Tom-Brown* held on 4 February in Abuja. Tom Brown is a locally produced nutritional supplement that is an innovative and inexpensive way of preventing malnutrition.

The event was organized by the BSG and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and attended by high-level representatives of federal ministries, departments and agencies, donors, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Data from the nutrition sector indicates that about 3.7 million children are stunted, wasted, or anaemic in the BAY states alone. Nutrition partners reported that at least 17 local government areas (LGAs) across the BAY states are experiencing a severe nutrition situation (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 4; GAM 15.0-29.9 per cent) during the post-harvest season. Recent nutrition surveys in hotspot LGAs of Yobe and Adamawa have revealed a high or very high prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM), with notable rates in Nguru (12.1 per cent), Machina (16.7 per cent), Hong (11 per cent), and Michika (16.3 per cent). These alarming figures underscore the urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions.

“Nigeria continues to bear one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally. This reality underscores the urgency of our gathering today. We must adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers,” said Professor Baba Mallam Gana, Commissioner of Health and Human Services for Borno State

“Scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development. To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics—the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform,” said FAO Representative in Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou.

Humanitarian partners called for increased investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown that could save the BAY states an estimated US $120 million annually. Scaling up Tom Brown production in Borno State and beyond has the potential to significantly reduce malnutrition and improve food security for the most vulnerable people across Nigeria

*Tom Brown is a nutrient-dense product made from locally available ingredients, proven to be effective in reducing malnutrition and preventing relapse by up to 35 percent among children discharged from UNICEF and WFP-supported nutrition centres. This initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines on child wasting, which advocate locally produced food supplements as part of a holistic approach to addressing malnutrition.

NSAG Activities Continue to threaten civilians in Borno and Yobe States

Non-state armed groups (NSAGs) activities continue to pose a significant threat to civilians, who are at risk of various forms of violence, including killing and maiming, abduction, forced recruitment, and sexual violence in Borno and Yobe states. These NSAG activities continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in north-east Nigeria.

On 12 January, at least 40 farmers and fishermen were killed in an attack by suspected NSAG members in Dumba Community in Kukawa LGA, Borno State. According to humanitarian partners operating in neighbouring Monguno LGA, several other people were reported. This attack followed an incident in May 2024 when NSAGs issued an evacuation notice to the residents of Kukawa - over 200 people fled to Monguno LGA straining the overburdened IDP camp reception centre in the town. Due to the disruption of their livelihood activities, communities in Kukawa have become increasingly vulnerable and reliant on humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian organizations are advocating for enhanced security measures and increased support to restore the livelihoods of the affected communities.

On 27 January, humanitarian partners reported that suspected NSAG members attacked a movement of 25 trucks transporting food supplies from Maiduguri to Damasak in Kareto village, along the Gubio-Damasak highway. The NSAGs allegedly looted food supplies and set one of the trucks on fire. This route is a critical humanitarian supply corridor, facilitating the movement of essential relief items from Maiduguri to Damasak.

The attacks on humanitarian cargo present a severe challenge to relief operations. With limited livelihood opportunities, over 47,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 77,000 IDP returnees in the town depend on humanitarian aid for their survival. Disruption to aid delivery risks worsening the already fragile humanitarian conditions, potentially leading to increased food insecurity, malnutrition, and heightened vulnerabilities for the affected people.

Also, on 28 January, over 4,600 people from 770 households in Yunusari local government area (LGA) in Yobe State fled their homes after receiving an ultimatum from an NSAG to vacate the area. According to the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the affected people were residing in the Bultuwa/Mar/Yara, Degeltura, and Dekwa wards in Yunusari LGA. The displaced people sought refuge in the Ballari community, located near Geidam town, Geidam LGA. The influx of displaced people has caused alarm in Geidam town, with local communities expressing concerns over potential NSAG attacks. Yobe SEMA assessed the situation of the newly arrived people, while humanitarian partners are planning a rapid needs assessment to identify their needs. The last major attack on the Geidem and Yunusari LGAs in 2021 resulted in the displacement of 180,000 people.

Insecurity, Climate Change, and Humanitarian Crisis Top Agenda at 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors' Forum in Maiduguri

The Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), organized the fifth Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum from 29-31 January in Maiduguri, Borno State, north-east Nigeria. The forum, themed "Rebuilding the Lake Chad Basin: Consolidating Gains, Commitment to Peace, Cross-Border Cooperation, Security, and Sustainable Development for a Resilient Community", aimed to facilitate dialogue, coordination, and cross-border cooperation in the region.

During the three-day conference, governors from the Lake Chad Basin region, senior Government leaders, humanitarian and development partners, and civil society representatives addressed pressing issues including insecurity, the worsening humanitarian crisis, and the region’s vulnerability to climate change.

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stated that while military power is necessary to contain security threats in the Lake Chad Basin, it must be accompanied by strategies that address root causes such as poverty, inequality, and lack of job opportunities for the youth in the region.

In a joint communique issued at the end of the conference, the forum acknowledged that despite military successes by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against NSAGs, remnants of these groups continued to launch attacks with limited Government presence and logistical challenges making security coordination difficult. The forum underscored the urgent need for stronger transborder security measures.

Climate change was identified as another major factor contributing to the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin, with droughts, desertification, and water scarcity intensifying economic hardships and forcing many affected people to resort to desperate survival strategies, including joining armed groups. The forum advocated for expanded environmental protection initiatives, climate adaptation programmes, and rehabilitating the shrinking Lake Chad ecosystem, which sustains millions of livelihoods.

The forum identified local governance and traditional leaders’ roles as vital in bridging security gaps and fostering reconciliation. It urged Government authorities to strengthen partnerships with traditional rulers, civil society, and community-based organizations to enhance trust and facilitate reintegration.

The forum reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, improving security coordination, and mobilizing sustainable funding mechanisms. Two new policy documents, "Transitional Justice in the Lake Chad Basin" and "Community-Based Reconciliation and Reintegration Policy," were launched, focusing on social cohesion, community rehabilitation, and the reintegration of former combatants.

The participating governors included Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State (Nigeria), Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State (Nigeria), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State (Nigeria), Lidjima Abdraman of Hadjer-Lamis (Chad), Mohamadou Ibrahim of Diffa (Niger), Midjiyawa Bakari of the North Region (Cameroon), Abate Edi’i Jean of the North Region (Cameroon), and Saleh Haggar Tidjani of the Province of Lac (Chad).

Niger was announced as the host for the sixth Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum.