Economic Struggles Deepen Malnutrition Crisis in Northern Nigeria

SOKOTO, Nigeria (AP) — Maryam Aminu faced a familiar situation when her youngest child, for the second time, was diagnosed with malnutrition. Providing regular, nutritious meals to her 18-month-old was a challenge amid economic hardships. Their situation worsened after February, when Shehu Aminu, her husband, lost his job as a taxi driver due to rising gasoline prices influenced by the conflict in Iran.

“I suspected it, but it saddened and angered me when he was diagnosed again. Times are tough, and food isn’t consistent,” Aminu shared in the living room of their unfinished two-room house in Kware, Sokoto, as charcoal stove ash swirled in the air.

Such recurrences of malnutrition among children are increasingly common across northern Nigeria, say health workers and humanitarian aid groups. They link these issues to the ripple effects of the Iran war. Northern Nigeria, one of the world’s poorest regions, already grapples with an insurgency crisis. Now, the Middle East conflict exacerbates food security concerns for millions in poverty, impacting children the most.

Economic reforms by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu have further heightened inflation after fuel subsidies were withdrawn three years ago and the currency was devalued. A World Bank report this week revealed 139 million Nigerians are now poor or at risk of falling into poverty. UNICEF warned that continued Middle East conflict could push an additional 23.4 million children into monetary poverty, marked by a lack of income or consumption, by year’s end. At least 80% would be in Africa and Asia, noted UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell.

“Children are bearing the brunt of escalating conflicts in the Middle East, including those far from the region,” said Russell. “The longer it continues, the worse the repercussions.”

Facing the conflict in Iran, the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, once a conduit for a fifth of global oil and gas, has triggered worldwide impacts. Fuel shocks have escalated prices for essentials like gasoline, groceries, fertilizers, and airfare.

In Nigeria, fuel prices surged from 800 nairas ($0.58) per liter in February to 1,400 nairas ($1.02) in April, influencing the costs of food and basic necessities. US President Donald Trump has tried various strategies to urge Iran to fully reopen the route, from airstrikes and naval blockades to negotiations and threats.

In Sokoto, skyrocketing prices have compounded family struggles. Health workers shared with AP that more children are returning to health centers due to malnutrition relapses. Records from a Sokoto hospital show nearly 40 children, previously treated for malnutrition since February, are back for treatment, aside from undocumented cases.

“I’m worried and sometimes angry at the increasing figures we’re observing,” said health worker Halimah Muhammad.

Beyond today’s struggles, rising costs and economic hardships indicate long-term growth impairment risks for children in impoverished households, Russell noted during an AP interview in Sokoto. “Their development will be impacted,” Russell stated. “They’re less likely to stay in school due to financial pressures on their parents. The long-term implications for these children are undoubtedly dreadful.”

Additionally, the conflict has disrupted fertilizer supply and prices, threatening farming seasons and worsening the plight of predominantly agricultural communities in northern Nigeria. These communities face access challenges to farming land amid deadly conflicts with armed groups.

“I wake up unhappy daily, realizing I can no longer support my family. A meal costing 2,000 nairas can now cost 5,000 nairas,” lamented Shehu, Maryam’s husband, whose meals mostly consist of pap, a corn pudding, and rice. “There’s no way to adequately feed the children.”

Northwestern Nigerians find themselves trapped between frequent attacks from bandits specializing in kidnappings for ransom and territory-expanding Islamist militants. Analysts note the Iran war compounds these impacts.

“This distant war offers no relief to the vulnerable in the north,” said Ikemesit Effiong, an analyst at SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based geopolitical risk consultancy.

Larai Malami, a mother of 10, delivered her youngest in December, yet the infant has been diagnosed twice with malnutrition. Her family faced setbacks when her husband lost his job as a motorcyclist and crossed into Niger seeking employment. Malami expresses concerns over fuel prices maintaining food costs and keeping her husband away. “I fear the child may never fully recover,” she admitted.

Aminu shares these sentiments: “I wish she were lively and vibrant,” she expressed.