Nigeria and several other African countries are set to benefit from a €557 million humanitarian funding package in 2026 following the European Union’s announcement of an initial €1.9 billion aid budget, with Nigeria’s North West region listed among the priority areas.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the EU said the €557 million allocation is designated for West and Central Africa, covering the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, North West Nigeria, Central Africa, Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa.
The amount excludes an additional €14.6 million set aside for North Africa.
The EU noted that the funding comes at a time when an estimated 239 million people globally require humanitarian assistance, amid declining contributions from major international donors.
According to the bloc, the humanitarian support will prioritise life-saving interventions such as emergency food and shelter, access to essential healthcare, protection for vulnerable populations, and support for children’s education in crisis-affected areas.
The European Commission stressed that despite mounting pressure on humanitarian systems and increasing violations of international humanitarian law, the EU remains committed to providing principled assistance to people in need, regardless of their location.
The €1.9 billion initial allocation covers funding for Africa, the Middle East, Ukraine and Moldova, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, Central and South America and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, as well as North Africa.
In addition, more than €415 million has been reserved to respond to sudden-onset emergencies worldwide and to sustain a strategic humanitarian supply chain.
Commenting on the commitment, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said:
“The humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain, and public funding alone will not meet the scale of the crisis. Europe is taking action, committing an initial €1.9 billion for 2026.
As the largest humanitarian donor, we are taking our political responsibility and leading the global response. That’s why I’m in Davos: to mobilise the private sector to think bigger, move faster, and act together. This is a test of solidarity, and Europe is rising to the challenge.”
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