The Nigerian Red Cross Society has launched a major humanitarian campaign to combat Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in northern Nigeria, with the goal of reaching over one million vulnerable individuals across nine states. The year-long intervention is expected to impact at least 170,000 households grappling with the effects of chronic food shortages and widespread insecurity.
The initiative, flagged off on Friday in Bauchi, is targeting states in the North Central, North West, and North East regions. These include Benue and Niger in the North Central zone; Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara in the North West; and Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, and Yobe in the North East. The Red Cross said the program comes at a critical time as malnutrition rates among children under five continue to rise, exacerbated by insecurity and the threat of climate-induced drought.
Speaking at the launch, the National President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adetayo Adeaga—represented by the National Disaster Adviser, Dr. Babale Adamu—explained that the intervention is aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity associated with acute malnutrition among women and children. He emphasized the need to strengthen community-based malnutrition management systems through active case detection, improved referral processes, and sustained education around proper nutrition, feeding practices, and hygiene.
According to Dr. Adamu, the programme will also focus on enhancing protection mechanisms for vulnerable groups, especially women, girls, and marginalized communities. He warned of the broader implications of food insecurity across the country, describing the situation as a looming crisis that could affect all regions if urgent measures are not taken. “Almost every part of Nigeria is facing the risk of drought. This is not just a nutritional problem—it’s a looming food catastrophe,” he stated.
The Red Cross clarified that the initiative is not a standalone response but rather a complementary effort to support existing government programs. “This is a government-led mission. What we’re doing is providing critical support where it’s needed most,” Dr. Adamu said.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Aminu Abdullahi, Acting Director of the Red Cross Health and Care Department, described malnutrition as a full-scale emergency in Nigeria. He noted that the organization had reached out to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to raise funds in support of the government’s response. “The Nigerian Red Cross is an auxiliary to the government. Our goal is to support, not substitute. We’ve secured funding to help implement this project across the nine most affected states,” he said.
Government representatives from the participating states delivered goodwill messages, commending the Red Cross Society for taking decisive action against what they described as one of the country’s most urgent public health challenges. They praised the organization’s commitment to strengthening state efforts to reduce malnutrition and save lives.