In response to the recent conflict in Benue State, Nigeria, the European Union (EU) has committed €1.5 million to support affected populations. This funding includes €500,000 from the EU Humanitarian Office (ECHO) for rapid response and €1 million repurposed from the EU-funded SIDPIN project for long-term solutions. Key international agencies involved in implementing the response include IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, and UN-HABITAT.
The commitment was announced during a meeting held on 14 July 2025 between the EU delegation and Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, along with other ministry officials. The meeting followed a prior EU delegation visit to Benue State and focused on enhancing support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and addressing the growing crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions during the ongoing lean season.
So far in 2025, the EU has provided €35 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria through ECHO, primarily targeting nutrition. The EU is also considering additional support, complementing aid from several EU Member States. Discussions highlighted the urgent need for nutrition interventions, especially for children under five and lactating mothers, and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address the humanitarian crisis.
Plans are underway to establish a task force between the Nigerian government and EU representatives to define roles, accelerate emergency nutrition interventions, and streamline food security assessments and supply chain processes. There is also a proposal to create a pooled funding mechanism combining federal, state, and donor resources.
On 19–20 July, the Nigerian Minister and EU Ambassador jointly visited Sokoto State, accompanied by humanitarian organizations including UNICEF, ACF, and MSF. The delegation met with the state governor and toured nutrition stabilization centers to assess the situation firsthand and determine urgent action needed to combat the growing malnutrition crisis.
