The Nigerian Government is set to receive €33 million from the European Commission’s €235 million humanitarian aid package for West and Central Africa, aimed at supporting vulnerable populations.
The funding is designed to support the region’s most vulnerable populations, including those affected by armed conflict, food shortages, and climate-related shocks. It will also assist forcibly displaced people, host communities, and individuals in hard-to-reach areas.
In a statement by the EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS , signed by the Press and Information Officer, Modestus Chukwulaka , the breakdown of the allocation shows that €75 million will go to the Central Sahel, while Chad will receive over €72 million.
Nigeria is set to benefit from €33 million, with Cameroon receiving more than €16.6 million. Additional funding includes €22 million for the Central African Republic, €4.8 million for Mauritania, and over €6 million for coastal countries. A further €6.4 million has been earmarked for regional humanitarian projects.
Speaking on the initiative, the , European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, highlighted the urgency of the situation.
“West and Central Africa is facing a storm of humanitarian crises, driven by conflict, poverty, hunger, instability, and climate shocks,” she said.
Reflecting on her visit to Chad, Lahbib described the devastating realities faced by displaced communities.
“I saw the human cost with my own eyes: families who had fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs, their homes lost, their livelihoods destroyed. For millions of people, humanitarian aid is not a choice. It is food on the table, clean water, medicine, shelter, and a chance for their children to learn again,” she stated
She reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting affected populations across the region.
“The European Union will always stand with people in crisis, as a reliable and principled humanitarian partner, to save lives, ease suffering, and bring hope where it is needed most,” Lahbib reiterated.
According to the statement, “West and Central Africa continue to grapple with overlapping humanitarian emergencies, largely driven by conflict and worsened by climate change, population pressures, and governance challenges. The epicentres of these crises remain the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, where violence has triggered widespread displacement both within countries and across borders.”
The statement also added that the ongoing crisis in Sudan has further strained neighbouring regions, particularly eastern Chad, while persistent insecurity in north-western Nigeria and parts of Cameroon continues to deepen humanitarian needs. The Central African Republic also faces longstanding instability.
Humanitarian organisations have welcomed the EU’s funding, noting that sustained international support is critical to addressing both immediate needs and long-term resilience in the region.
As the crises evolve, the €235 million package is expected to provide urgent relief and renewed hope for millions struggling to rebuild their lives amid ongoing ones.