By Sarah Mattew , Abuja
The European Commission has announced a €235 million humanitarian aid package to assist vulnerable populations across West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, amid escalating conflicts, food insecurity, and mass displacement.
In a statement issued by the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS and signed by its Press and Information Officer, Modestus Chukwulaka, the Commission said the funding would support communities affected by armed conflicts, climate-related shocks, and economic hardship, as well as displaced persons and their host communities.
A breakdown of the allocation shows that €75 million will be directed to the Central Sahel region, over €16.6 million to Cameroon, €22 million to the Central African Republic, more than €72 million to Chad, €4.8 million to Mauritania, €33 million to Nigeria, and over €6 million to coastal countries. An additional €6.4 million has been set aside for regional humanitarian programmes.
The Commission stated that the funds would provide critical support, including food assistance, clean water, healthcare services, shelter, and education for millions affected across the region.
Commenting on the intervention, Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality,
Preparedness and Crisis Management, described the situation as a severe and complex humanitarian emergency driven by multiple factors.
“West and Central Africa is facing a storm of humanitarian crises, fuelled by conflict, poverty, hunger, instability, and climate shocks,” she said.
Lahbib, who recently visited Chad, recounted the plight of displaced families forced from their homes, stressing that humanitarian assistance remains vital for survival.
“For millions, humanitarian aid is not optional—it is the difference between hunger and food, between illness and care, and between despair and hope for their children’s future,” she added.
The Commission identified the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin as the epicentres of the crisis, noting that insecurity is spreading into coastal countries and driving displacement within and across borders.
It also highlighted the spillover effects of the ongoing crisis in Sudan on eastern Chad, alongside persistent insecurity in north-west Nigeria, and parts of Cameroon and the Central African Republic.
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