The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Tanko Sununu, says more than three million Nigerians remain internally displaced due to flooding, insecurity, and other natural disasters.
Speaking at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Management and Response, Sununu warned that Nigeria faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, compounded by dwindling global aid support.
“Just a few days ago, the World Food Programme suspended some of its activities, which had supported over 1.2 million Nigerians in the North-East. This leaves more than 300,000 children at risk of malnutrition, while 200,000 are already receiving treatment,” he said.
Citing United Nations estimates, the minister disclosed that over 24.8 million Nigerians have suffered some form of hunger, with poverty disproportionately affecting the North, which accounts for 65 percent of the country’s poor population.
Sununu commended the National Assembly for establishing a dedicated committee to oversee humanitarian interventions, expressing hope that it would strengthen transparency and improve aid delivery.
The committee chairman, Maidala Balami, described flooding as a national emergency requiring urgent and coordinated action, stressing that it had become more than a seasonal challenge.
Inaugurating the committee, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Abbas Tajudeen—represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere—charged members to provide both immediate and long-term solutions to Nigeria’s recurring flood crisis.
He noted that flooding in recent years has devastated communities, destroyed livelihoods, displaced families, and undermined development efforts.
Reporting by Tanimu Salihu