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The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has sounded the alarm over the severe malnutrition crisis affecting 5.4 million children under the age of five in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions.
This was disclosed by UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Cristian Munduate, during a press briefing at the Command Guest House in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Wednesday.
Speaking about the situation in Zamfara State, Munduate described the alarming conditions facing children.
She stated that out of 1.2 million children under five in the state, 250,000 are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), which poses a grave threat to their survival.
She further noted that one in ten children in Zamfara is affected by wasting, while stunting among children aged 0-5 years stands at an alarming 45.2%.
Neonatal mortality in the state is equally troubling, with 42 deaths recorded per 1,000 live births.
Munduate expressed concern over the low healthcare engagement by pregnant women in Zamfara, highlighting that only 21.5% attend at least four antenatal visits, while institutional deliveries remain critically low at 15%. Immunization coverage is also severely lacking, with only 9.6% of children in the state receiving the Penta 3 vaccine.
The crisis in Zamfara mirrors a national challenge that demands urgent attention. Across Nigeria, over 700,000 children in Zamfara, representing 62%, are out of school, while 60% of girls in the state are married off early, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Birth registration remains low at just 31.4%, leaving many children unaccounted for and vulnerable.
Nationally, 40% of children under five are stunted, 2.1 million have never been vaccinated, and one in four children is out of school. Additionally, 47% of children live in income-poor households, while 67% face multidimensional poverty.
UNICEF has called for urgent funding to tackle this crisis, requiring over $250 million to address critical needs in Nigeria’s most vulnerable states, including Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina. Of this amount, more than $100 million is needed for these three states alone.
Munduate revealed that in Zamfara, UNICEF aims to treat 400,000 children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition and provide measles vaccinations to over 300,000 children in 2025.
She emphasised the urgent need for collaboration and decisive action, noting that the situation is dire and demands immediate attention.
Munduate expressed hope that with collective efforts, the lives of children in Zamfara and beyond can be saved, and a brighter future can be secured.
She however reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to working with stakeholders to restore hope, ensure better health outcomes, and provide educational opportunities for Nigeria’s vulnerable children.
