Nutritional Insecurity, Psychosocial Trauma, and Protection Risks for Vulnerable Children in Nigeria's Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings: Evidence Gaps and a Call for Sustained Research Investment
Abstract
In Nigeria's northeast, northwest, and north-central regions, 8.8 million people—including 4.9 million children—are affected by conflict, armed violence, and displacement, with 1.9 million children facing acute protection risks including recruitment by armed groups, gender-based violence, exploitation, abuse, and severe psychosocial distress. Malnutrition burdens are among the highest globally: nearly 5.4 million children in priority northern zones are at risk of acute malnutrition (1.8 million with severe acute malnutrition), while national stunting affects 40% of under-fives. Orphanhood and vulnerability affect an estimated 17.4+ million children who have lost one or both parents, compounded by the Almajiri system and street-based exploitation. This perspective synthesizes humanitarian and national data to map these intersecting nutritional, mental health, and protection crises and their disproportionate impact on girls, children with disabilities, and those in protracted displacement. We identify major evidence gaps in longitudinal trajectories, integrated intervention effectiveness, cultural adaptation of psychosocial support, and economic analyses in Nigerian contexts. We advance a targeted research and funding agenda focused on integrated, multi-sectoral approaches (nutrition + protection + mental health), implementation science, and community-driven models. Coordinated, multi-year funding at scale—from humanitarian, development, and research funders—is urgently required to protect this generation, strengthen systems, and generate transferable evidence for other fragile settings in Africa and beyond.