Torkwase Nyiekaa The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Tanko Sununu, has sounded the alarm over Nigeria’s worsening humanitarian situation, revealing that more than three million citizens are currently displaced due to flooding, insecurity, and other disasters. He warned that millions more risk falling into extreme hunger and malnutrition as international donor funding continues to shrink. Speaking at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Management and Response, Sununu described the combined effects of natural disasters, insecurity, and dwindling aid as a “critical humanitarian emergency” facing the country. “Humanitarian funding is declining globally, and Nigeria is not spared,” Sununu said. “Just days ago, the World Food Programme suspended some of its operations, which had been supporting more than 1.2 million Nigerians in the North-East with emergency cash transfers. The decision puts over 300,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition, while more than 200,000 are already undergoing treatment.” Citing United Nations data, the minister disclosed that about 24.8 million Nigerians have experienced hunger in one form or another, while millions remain uprooted from their homes due to floods and insecurity. He stressed that poverty is disproportionately concentrated in the North, which accounts for roughly 65 percent of the country’s poor population. “Of this number, more than 70 percent are smallholder farmers who have lost their farmlands and means of livelihood to flooding and drought,” he explained. Sununu outlined the Federal Government’s efforts to cushion the impact through the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). Under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), he said, smallholder farmers have accessed interest-free loans of ₦300,000 each to restart their lives. In addition, over 5.9 million households, translating to about 25 million Nigerians, have benefited from ₦419 billion in conditional cash transfers. According to him, the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s determination to help vulnerable families live with dignity despite prevailing economic difficulties. “These measures reflect the President’s commitment to safeguarding livelihoods and protecting households from collapsing into extreme poverty,” Sununu noted. He praised the National Assembly for setting up a dedicated committee, expressing confidence that it would strengthen oversight, enhance transparency, and ensure effective aid delivery. Nigeria is among the countries hardest hit by the global funding squeeze. The UN recently disclosed that its $4.7 billion humanitarian appeal for West and Central Africa has only received 36 percent of the needed support, forcing agencies like the WFP to reduce rations across the region. In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Rep. Maidala Balami, described flooding as a “national emergency” that demands urgent, coordinated, and comprehensive action. “Year after year, lives are lost, properties destroyed, and entire communities left in ruins. The era of piecemeal responses is over,” he said. “What we need is a national framework that integrates prevention, early warning systems, emergency preparedness, resilience building, infrastructure development, and climate adaptation strategies.” Balami assured that the committee would consult affected communities, engage experts, and propose a blueprint for lasting solutions. Inaugurating the committee, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, charged members to deliver both immediate and long-term remedies to the country’s perennial flood challenges. “Flooding is more than an environmental problem. It is a socio-economic and humanitarian crisis,” the Speaker said. “Every year, families are displaced, farmlands submerged, and infrastructure washed away. This demands deliberate, well-coordinated action.” Abbas reiterated the 10th House’s commitment to addressing issues that directly affect Nigerians, stressing that lawmakers have a responsibility beyond legislation to anticipate problems, strengthen institutions, and ensure timely government responses. He directed the committee to identify lapses in preparedness and propose both short-term and long-term measures that would shift Nigeria’s approach from reactive to preventive flood management. The Speaker also emphasized collaboration with key agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ministries of Environment, Water Resources, Health, Works, and Housing, as well as state and local governments. He highlighted the role of the Nigerian Space Agency in providing satellite data for effective flood mapping. “Only a holistic, well-coordinated strategy can guarantee sustainable flood management,” Abbas stressed, adding that the House is ready to strengthen weak or outdated laws hindering effective disaster response.