The malnutrition crisis in Kebbi State is worsening, exposing thousands of children to hunger, disease and premature death, as health facilities struggle to cope with rising admissions and families battle deepening poverty.
Across rural communities and urban settlements, children with sunken eyes, fragile bodies and weakened immunity have become a common sight, signalling a humanitarian challenge that goes beyond seasonal hunger.
Health workers say the crisis has moved from a recurring problem to a structural emergency, driven by poverty, food insecurity and fragile healthcare systems.
DAILY POST gathered that many households in Kebbi now survive on limited meals, with children often receiving the smallest portions as families struggle to cope with rising food costs and shrinking incomes.
Recent data from Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, shows that admission of malnourished children in its facilities across Kebbi State increased by 74.1 per cent between January and June 2025.
The organisation said the sharp rise reflects a deepening crisis rather than a temporary spike in cases.
A senior medical officer with MSF, Dr Hamza Bello, disclosed that between January and May 2025, 24,784 children were admitted into inpatient therapeutic feeding centres, while 107,461 received treatment under outpatient nutrition programmes, representing a 13 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
He explained that outpatient programmes cater for children with uncomplicated cases of severe acute malnutrition, while critical cases are admitted for intensive care.
“In one instance, we had about 400 children on admission in a single day,” Bello said, describing the caseload as unprecedented and warning that the situation could worsen during peak malnutrition periods.
DAILY POST gathered that some caregivers travel up to 100 kilometres to reach treatment centres, highlighting gaps in access to specialised healthcare in many parts of the state.
At several nutrition centres visited by DAILY POST, health workers confirmed that many children arrived late when complications such as infections and organ failure have already set in.
A health worker in Maiyama Local Government Area, who spoke under anonymity, said many parents fail to recognise the early signs of malnutrition or lack the resources to seek timely medical care.
Beyond statistics, the crisis is measured in the lives of children whose growth, health and future prospects are being threatened by prolonged hunger.
In communities across Kebbi, parents narrated painful experiences of watching their children lose weight, fall ill repeatedly and struggle to survive.
DAILY POST gathered that poverty remains a major driver of the crisis, with many families unable to afford balanced diets or healthcare services.
Experts say malnutrition in Kebbi is not caused by hunger alone but by a combination of factors, including poor infant feeding practices, limited dietary diversity, recurrent diseases and weak primary healthcare systems.
Some described malnutrition as “a slow sickness that eats children from inside,” noting that many families only realise the danger when it is almost too late.
Agricultural challenges, climate change and insecurity have also disrupted farming activities, reducing food production and worsening food insecurity in rural communities.
Civil society groups warn that persistent malnutrition could have long-term consequences, including impaired brain development, poor academic performance and reduced productivity in adulthood.
A nutrition advocate, Aisha Abdullahi, said malnutrition reflects deeper social and economic failures.
“When children are malnourished, it shows that families are struggling and systems are not working as they should,” she told our correspondent.
International organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about rising malnutrition in northern Nigeria, with Kebbi identified as one of the most affected states.
MSF warned that many children arrive at treatment centres in critical condition, underscoring the need for early intervention and stronger community-based prevention programmes.
The organisation also called on the Kebbi State Government to ensure the steady availability of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and to scale up preventive and curative nutrition programmes.
Experts also recommend prioritising infant and young child feeding, nutrition counselling and access to affordable, nutritious food, alongside social protection programmes for vulnerable households.
Civil society groups argue that government responses must move beyond emergency interventions to long-term strategies that address poverty, food insecurity and healthcare gaps.
As the crisis deepens, many residents fear that without coordinated and sustained action, more children will continue to suffer from preventable hunger and disease.
Meanwhile, several efforts to reach the Commissioner for Health, Hon Samaila Yakubu Augie, proved abortive as his phone number was perpetually switched off.
However, when DAILY POST visited the Ministry of Health within the state secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, on Monday, an official, who craved anonymity, said the commissioner was out of town.
The official further explained that the current commissioner might have little or no information about the development, as he only assumed office less than five months ago following his deployment from the Ministry of Internal Security in October 2025.
The ministry has, however, been criticised for not living up to expectations under the current administration.
In fact, the governor was previously forced to suspend the former Commissioner for Health, Yunusa Isma’il, over alleged dereliction of duty.
The governor had directed the suspended commissioner to explain why further sanctions should not be imposed on him, having allegedly disregarded the mandate entrusted to him.
As the crisis deepens, many residents fear that without coordinated and sustained action, more children will continue to suffer from preventable hunger and disease.
For families across Kebbi, malnutrition is no longer a distant policy issue but a daily reality that threatens the survival of their children and the future of their communities.
