The Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has released its 2025 Nigeria Activity Report, revealing worsening malnutrition, recurring disease outbreaks and persistent maternal healthcare challenges across the country.
The report highlighted rising cases of severe acute malnutrition, repeated outbreaks of infectious diseases and continued maternal mortality concerns in underserved and crisis-affected communities.
MSF, which has operated in Nigeria since 1996, said it treated more than 440,000 children for malnutrition, over 300,000 people for malaria and assisted more than 33,500 deliveries in 2025.
The humanitarian organisation said it maintained regular medical projects in 10 states — Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara — while also establishing a new presence in Kaduna State. Emergency responses were also carried out in other states, including Niger and Adamawa.
According to the report, MSF teams treated 353,989 children with severe acute malnutrition through outpatient programmes, while 90,723 children with complications were admitted into inpatient stabilisation centres in MSF-supported facilities.
MSF Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr Ahmed Aldikhari, described the situation as alarming, noting that 2025 recorded the organisation’s highest malnutrition admissions in recent years.
“The 2025 data tells a harrowing story. With over 440,000 children put on treatment, it is the year with the highest admissions for malnutrition we’ve had in Nigeria in recent years,” he said.
Aldikhari explained that malnutrition continues to fuel vulnerability to diseases such as measles, malaria and diphtheria, especially in communities with limited access to healthcare services.
The report linked the worsening nutrition crisis to insecurity, displacement, inflation, flooding, drought, rising food prices and cuts in humanitarian funding, all of which continue to affect families’ access to food and healthcare.
MSF also raised concerns over recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases, particularly during the rainy season. In 2025, its teams treated 341,239 malaria patients, 38,753 children for measles, 6,123 people for diphtheria and 985 meningitis patients across several states.
The organisation noted that repeated disease outbreaks are closely tied to worsening malnutrition, especially among children.
To address seasonal disease surges, MSF said it collaborated with federal and state health authorities to support vaccination campaigns, strengthen disease surveillance, reinforce medical teams, distribute mosquito nets and improve vector control measures.
“Many of these illnesses are preventable,” Aldikhari said. “Strengthening vaccination coverage, water and sanitation systems, disease surveillance, and access to timely treatment remains critical.”
The report further identified maternal and newborn health as a major concern, noting that Nigeria still records some of the world’s highest maternal and infant mortality rates despite many deaths being preventable.
MSF said women, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas, continue to face barriers such as insecurity, long distances to health facilities, transportation difficulties, high treatment costs and weak referral systems.
In 2025, the organisation assisted 33,590 deliveries, conducted 119,469 antenatal consultations and carried out 224 fistula surgeries.
MSF said its teams frequently handled severe complications linked to delayed access to care, including obstructed labour, severe bleeding, infections and eclampsia.
“Timely access to emergency obstetric and newborn care can save lives,” Aldikhari added. “There is an urgent need for stronger investment in primary healthcare, referral systems, staffing, equipment and emergency maternal services, especially in underserved areas.”
