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The European Union (EU) has announced that Nigeria, along with other African nations, will receive €557 million from the bloc’s 2026 humanitarian aid budget. The announcement was made on Wednesday by Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka, Press Officer for the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in Abuja.
The funds will primarily focus on Nigeria’s North-West region, a zone facing significant humanitarian challenges. This €557 million is part of the EU’s larger €1.9 billion aid allocation for 2026, designed to provide life-saving assistance to millions in crisis across the globe.
The EU’s statement highlighted that over 239 million people worldwide currently need urgent humanitarian support, even as some major donors are scaling back their contributions.
According to the EU, the aid will cover emergency food and shelter, healthcare, protection for vulnerable populations, and educational support for children in crisis zones. The allocation for Africa and surrounding regions includes:
- €557 million to West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, North-West Nigeria, Central Africa, Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region, and the Greater Horn of Africa.
- €448 million to the Middle East, including Gaza, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.
- €145 million for Ukraine as the conflict with Russia enters its fourth year, and €8 million for Moldova.
- €126 million for Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
- €95 million for Central and South America and the Caribbean.
- €73 million for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, especially to address the Myanmar crisis and its impact in Bangladesh.
- €14.6 million for North Africa.
- Over €415 million reserved for sudden-onset emergencies and maintaining strategic supply chains worldwide.
The EU’s humanitarian efforts are part of a broader strategy to fill the growing gap between the rising global need for aid and available resources. European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, highlighted that private sector support and innovative financing models are essential to ensure aid reaches those who need it most.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Lahbib discussed new partnerships with business leaders and investors under the theme “New Alliances in Aid and Development,” aiming to scale up humanitarian interventions worldwide.
Since 1992, the EU and its member states have been among the world’s largest humanitarian donors, providing assistance to over 110 countries through NGOs, UN agencies, and specialised agencies.
The EU’s latest commitment underscores its continued support for vulnerable populations, particularly in regions affected by conflict, climate crises, and political instability, with North-West Nigeria among the key beneficiaries.
