Nigeria and other African countries are set to receive €557 million in humanitarian assistance in 2026, as the European Union unveiled an initial €1.9 billion aid budget to respond to escalating global crises. North-West Nigeria has been listed among the priority areas.
The allocation to Africa, announced by the European Commission, covers West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, North-West Nigeria, Central and Southern Africa, the Great Lakes region, and the Greater Horn of Africa. The figure excludes a separate €14.6 million earmarked for North Africa.
According to the EU Commission in Nigeria, the announcement comes amid growing humanitarian pressures worldwide, with about 239 million people currently estimated to require assistance even as major international donors scale back funding.
The European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the EU was stepping in at a critical moment to sustain life-saving support for vulnerable populations while also seeking to attract private sector funding to complement public resources.
“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,” Lahbib said.
She added that beyond Africa, the EU has earmarked €448 million for the Middle East, focusing on Gaza following last year’s fragile ceasefire, as well as Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. Ukraine will receive €145 million as Russia’s invasion enters its fourth year, alongside €8 million for humanitarian projects in Moldova.
The EU also allocated €126 million to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran; €95 million for Central and South America and the Caribbean; €73 million for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, particularly addressing the Myanmar crisis and its spillover into Bangladesh; and more than €415 million for sudden-onset emergencies worldwide and to maintain a strategic humanitarian supply chain.
EU humanitarian assistance will continue to prioritise emergency food and shelter, essential healthcare, protection for vulnerable populations, and support for children’s education in crisis zones, at a time when international humanitarian law faces increasing pressure.
The EU and its member states remain the world’s leading humanitarian aid donors. Since 1992, the European Commission has delivered assistance in more than 110 countries through non-governmental organisations, United Nations agencies, and specialised EU bodies.
Lahbib described the EU’s latest commitment as a call for collective action.
“This is a test of solidarity and Europe is rising to the challenge,” she said.
As part of efforts to bridge the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available funding, Lahbib is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos this week to engage business leaders and investors on innovative financing models. She is also scheduled to co-host an event on new alliances in aid and development.
The European Emergency Response Coordination Centre operates around the clock to support countries affected by major disasters, coordinating rapid deployment of emergency assistance among EU states, partner countries, and humanitarian experts.
Lateefah Ibrahim