The European Commission has unveiled a €235 million humanitarian assistance package for West and Central Africa, with Nigeria expected to receive €33 million to help tackle rising insecurity, displacement, and food insecurity.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the European Union said the funds are intended to support vulnerable populations across the region as ongoing conflict and climate-related challenges continue to worsen living conditions, especially in North-West Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad Basin.
Under the allocation plan, €75 million will go to the Central Sahel, 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 states. An additional €6.4 million is earmarked for regional-level interventions.
Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said West and Central Africa are grappling with overlapping humanitarian emergencies driven by insecurity, poverty, hunger, political instability, and climate impacts.
She said: “Last year in Chad, I witnessed the human toll firsthand—families who fled with nothing but what they could carry, having lost their homes and livelihoods.”
“For millions, humanitarian assistance means survival—food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, and access to education. The European Union remains committed to standing with those in crisis as a dependable humanitarian partner, saving lives and restoring hope.”
The EU noted that the region continues to face complex and interconnected crises, with conflict as the main driver, worsened by climate change and challenges linked to governance, population pressures, and access to resources.
It added that the worst-affected areas include the Central Sahel and Lake Chad regions, where insecurity has spilled into coastal countries, triggering large-scale displacement both within and across borders.
The statement also highlighted ongoing crises in North-West Nigeria, North-West and South-West Cameroon, and the Central African Republic, alongside the impact of the Sudan conflict on eastern Chad’s already fragile humanitarian situation.
