Nigeria

With over 190 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world.

Nigeria also has one of the fastest-growing economies, which is based primarily on the petroleum industry. However, a decade-long conflict has devastated the northeast of the country.

Thousands have been killed and nearly two million people have been uprooted since fighting broke out between the military and non-state armed groups.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been responding to disease outbreaks and emergency health needs in Nigeria for many years, focusing on maternal and paediatric healthcare throughout the country. We have also scaled up our activities in the north, particularly around treating malnutrition, as huge numbers of people caught up in the conflict depend on aid to survive.

We also support treatment for noma, a neglected disease that mainly affects young children. It starts with an infection of the gums that goes on to destroy the bone and tissue of the cheek and nose. Our team provides reconstructive surgery, physiotherapy, nutrition and mental health support. We're also running an international advocacy campaign, calling for noma to be included in the WHO Neglected Tropical Diseases list in 2023

Nigeria news and stories