Sokoto, Nigeria (AP) – Maryam Aminu faced little surprise when her youngest child, the last of her six children, was diagnosed with malnutrition for the second time in April. Her ability to provide adequate and nutritious food for her 18-month-old child had been compromised. Economic hardship intensified for Aminu’s family, exacerbated by her husband Shehu’s job loss as a taxi driver. This situation arose due to increased gasoline prices, an aftermath of the conflict in Iran.
Aminu shared her feelings in the unfinished two-room house located in the peaceful Kware village. She admitted her sadness and anger over the situation, recognizing the deficiency of consistent food supplies. The recurrence of child malnutrition has become increasingly prevalent in Sokoto and throughout northern Nigeria. Health and humanitarian workers attribute this pattern to the broader effects of the conflict in Iran. Northern Nigeria is already suffering from insurgency issues, and the conflict in the Middle East has worsened food security for individuals living in poverty, especially children.
Following extensive economic reforms by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, inflation soared after the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the currency. A World Bank report mentioned this week that 139 million Nigerians are now impoverished or susceptible to poverty. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that if the Middle East war persists, an additional 23.4 million children could face monetary poverty—defined by a lack of income or consumption—by year-end. UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, mentioned the severe consequences of the conflict, affecting children globally.
“Children are suffering because of the growing conflict in the Middle East, even those far removed from the region,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “The longer it continues, the more severe the repercussions.”
Global implications of the Iran conflict include the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital route for a significant portion of the world’s oil and gas—causing a rippling effect worldwide. Fuel prices surged, influencing costs for fuel, groceries, fertilizers, and airfares. In Nigeria, petrol prices jumped from 800 nairas (0.58 USD) in February to 1,400 nairas (1.02 USD) in April. This has created a chain reaction, elevating costs for food and essential goods. The U.S. President, Donald Trump, has made efforts to reopen the route using various strategies, including aerial attacks and naval blockades.
In Sokoto, rising prices have imposed greater hardships on families, according to health workers interviewed by The Associated Press. Increasing numbers of children are returning for treatment after relapsing into malnutrition. Hospital records in Sokoto showed that nearly 40 children, treated previously for malnutrition since February, needed retreatment, alongside undocumented cases.
The UNICEF Director, Russell, spoke with AP about the implications for children’s long-term growth and educational opportunities. Rising costs and economic hardships mean children from impoverished homes face increased risks of growth stunting. Russell emphasized the severe implications for children’s futures.
“Their development is compromised,” Russell stated. “Financial pressures on parents lessen chances of children staying in school, so the long-term implications for these children are indeed dire.”
The conflict has also affected fertilizer supplies, disrupting the planting season and worsening conditions for predominantly agricultural communities in northern Nigeria. Armed conflicts hinder access to farmlands. Shehu Aminu, reflecting on his struggles, noted the rising costs of food, lamenting how much more difficult it has become to feed his family.
In Northern Nigeria, people are trapped between attacks from bandit groups focused on kidnappings and Islamist militants expanding territories. The distant war contributes to the turmoil.
Ikemesit Effiong, a partner at SBM Intelligence in Lagos, highlighted the ongoing conflict’s amplified effects.
“This remote war offers no relief to vulnerable communities in the north,” Effiong stated.
Larai Malami, a mother of ten, shared her struggles after her husband lost his job and traveled to Niger seeking work. Two diagnoses of malnutrition for her youngest child born in December have left her worried about fuel costs and their impact on food prices.
Aminu echoed similar concerns about her children’s development.
“I wish she was joyful and full of life,” Aminu expressed.
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