Key facts
- Nigerian children are suffering from increased malnutrition and poverty.
- The war in Iran has disrupted global food and fertilizer supplies, leading to higher prices.
- Gasoline prices in Nigeria have significantly increased, impacting essential goods.
- UNICEF estimates that millions more children could fall into poverty due to the conflict.
- Long-term consequences for children include compromised development and reduced schooling.
Nigerian children are facing a worsening crisis of malnutrition and poverty, directly linked to the ongoing war in Iran and its ripple effects on global food and fertilizer supplies. The conflict has triggered a worldwide fuel shock, dramatically increasing prices for essential commodities, including gasoline and food, in Nigeria.
Maryam Aminu, a mother in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria, has seen her 18-month-old child diagnosed with malnutrition for the second time. Her family's struggles were amplified after her husband, Shehu Aminu, lost his taxi driver job due to a surge in retail gasoline prices. The price of gasoline in Nigeria jumped from 800 nairas ($0.58) per liter in February to 1,400 nairas ($1.02) in April, causing a cascade of price increases for food and necessities.
Local health and humanitarian workers report a growing number of children relapsing into malnutrition in Sokoto and across northern Nigeria. This situation is compounded by President Bola Tinubu's economic reforms, which have led to high inflation following the removal of fuel subsidies and currency devaluation. A World Bank report indicates that 139 million Nigerians are now living in poverty or are vulnerable to it.
UNICEF warns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could push an additional 23.4 million children into monetary poverty by the end of the year, with at least 80% of them in Africa and Asia. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted that children far from the conflict zone are paying the price, and the longer the war continues, the more severe the consequences will be.
The war's impact extends to fertilizer supplies and prices, threatening the agricultural season in northern Nigeria, where communities are already struggling with access to farmland due to ongoing conflicts with armed groups. Shehu Aminu lamented that a meal that once cost 2,000 nairas now requires 5,000 nairas, making it difficult to feed his family nutritious meals.
Health workers in Sokoto have noted an increase in children returning for malnutrition treatment, with nearly 40 previously treated children requiring care again since February. Russell also cautioned that prolonged economic hardship could lead to long-term developmental issues for children, including stunted growth and reduced school attendance.