Humanitarian Crises in Nigeria: The Role of Multi-Sectoral Approach for Long-Term and Sustainable Solutions

Abstract

Humanitarian crises in Nigeria, driven by insurgency, armed conflicts, floods, drought, outbreaks of communicable diseases and pandemics have severely impacted nutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. These crises have exacerbated food insecurity, disrupted health services, and led to widespread malnutrition, with long-term consequences for public health and economic development. This narrative review synthesized existing literature on the impact of such crisis while underscoring the importance of a multisectoral approach that integrates health, agriculture, education and other social protection systems. This strategy emphasized strengthening food systems, enhancing community resilience, improving access to health and nutrition services, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Through effective collaboration among local and regional governments, NGOs, and international organizations, a multisectoral approach offers a pathway to sustainable solutions that mitigate the effects of the crises and ensure a long-term food security. The paper recommended the prioritization of the implementation of multisectoral frameworks in humanitarian programming.  Key stakeholders including government, non-governmental organizations and international agencies should strengthen collaboration mechanisms to ensure interventions are cohesive and context-specific.