Humanitarian funding cuts threatening Nigeria’s health response — MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières has warned that deepening humanitarian funding cuts are threatening Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare response, as rising malnutrition, disease outbreaks and maternal health emergencies continue to overwhelm vulnerable communities across the country.

The organisation raised the concern in its 2025 Country Activity Report released on Wednesday, describing the current health situation as increasingly dire amid worsening economic hardship, insecurity and mounting pressure on overstretched medical services.

MSF disclosed that more than 440,000 children were treated for malnutrition in 2025, marking the highest number of malnutrition admissions recorded by the organisation in Nigeria in recent years.

According to the report, MSF treated 353,989 children for severe acute malnutrition through outpatient programmes and admitted another 90,723 children with acute malnutrition and medical complications into stabilisation centres.

MSF Country Representative in Nigeria, Ahmed Aldikhari, said the crisis was being worsened by declining humanitarian support and deteriorating living conditions affecting millions of families.

“The 2025 data tells a harrowing story: with over 440,000 children put on treatment, it is the year with the highest admissions for malnutrition we’ve had in Nigeria in recent years,” Aldikhari said.

He added, “conflict and insecurity, displacement, several consecutive years of inflation, flooding, drought and rising food prices continue to affect families’ ability to access food and healthcare.

“Humanitarian funding cuts are also increasing pressure on already overstretched services in high-need areas.”

MSF has operated in Nigeria since 1996, responding to disease outbreaks, malnutrition, maternal health emergencies, conflict-related crises and natural disasters.

In 2025, the organisation ran medical projects in Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, while also expanding operations into Kaduna State. Emergency interventions were also carried out in Adamawa and Niger states.

The report noted that northern Nigeria continues to face a worsening nutrition crisis driven by insecurity, displacement and economic hardship, with children bearing the brunt of food shortages and poor healthcare access.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that funding shortages are undermining emergency operations in Nigeria, particularly in the conflict-affected North-East, where millions depend on aid for food, healthcare and shelter. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has in recent years, raised concerns over widening funding gaps affecting nutrition support, emergency healthcare, water and sanitation services in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

Aid groups have also warned that donor fatigue, competing global crises and shrinking international humanitarian budgets are reducing available support for countries such as Nigeria, despite worsening needs caused by insecurity, inflation and climate-related disasters.

The funding pressures come at a time when Nigeria is grappling with severe economic challenges following fuel subsidy removal, rising inflation and currency depreciation, which have significantly increased the cost of food, medicines and humanitarian operations.

According to recent food security assessments by international agencies, millions of Nigerians are facing acute food insecurity, while humanitarian organisations have warned that reduced funding could lead to cuts in nutrition programmes, vaccination campaigns and emergency medical interventions.

Beyond malnutrition, MSF warned that recurring disease outbreaks are further stretching fragile health systems.

The organisation said its teams treated 341,239 malaria patients, 38,753 measles cases, 6,123 diphtheria cases and 985 meningitis patients across MSF-supported facilities in 2025.

Aldikhari stressed that many of the illnesses affecting vulnerable communities were preventable with stronger healthcare investments and improved public health systems.

“Many of these illnesses are preventable,” he said.

“Strengthening vaccination coverage, water and sanitation systems, disease surveillance, and access to timely treatment remains critical.”

Nigeria has in recent years battled repeated outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, measles and meningitis, especially in states with weak immunisation coverage and inadequate sanitation infrastructure.

MSF also highlighted the country’s persistent maternal health crisis, noting that women in rural and conflict-affected communities still face major barriers to accessing emergency healthcare.

According to the report, the organisation assisted 33,590 deliveries, conducted 119,469 antenatal consultations and carried out 224 fistula surgeries in 2025.

The report noted that MSF teams frequently received women suffering severe complications caused by delayed access to care, including obstructed labour, severe bleeding, infections and eclampsia.

Aldikhari called for urgent investments in emergency maternal healthcare and stronger primary healthcare systems.

“Timely access to emergency obstetric and newborn care can save lives,” he stated.

“There is an urgent need for stronger investment in primary healthcare, referral systems, staffing, equipment and emergency maternal services, especially in underserved areas.”

Nigeria accounts for one of the highest maternal mortality burdens globally, with healthcare experts attributing many preventable deaths to poor access to skilled birth attendants, weak referral systems, poverty and underfunded health facilities.