Nigeria and several other African countries are set to benefit from a €557 million humanitarian assistance package in 2026, following the European Union’s approval of an initial €1.9 billion aid budget.
The funding will cover West and Central Africa, with Nigeria’s North West region listed among the priority areas due to persistent security challenges linked to banditry and kidnapping.
In a statement issued by the European Union, the bloc said the €557 million allocation would support humanitarian operations across the Sahel, the 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 specifically set aside for North Africa.
The EU noted that the funding comes at a critical time, as an estimated 239 million people worldwide are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, while several major international donors are scaling back their contributions.
According to the bloc, the humanitarian intervention will prioritise life-saving support, including emergency food aid, shelter, access to essential healthcare services, protection for vulnerable populations, and educational support for children in crisis-affected communities.
The European Commission reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian principles, stressing that despite increasing pressure on global aid systems and growing violations of international humanitarian law, the EU would continue to provide assistance based on need, regardless of location.
The broader €1.9 billion allocation for 2026 covers multiple regions beyond Africa, including the Middle East, Ukraine and Moldova, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and North Africa. In addition, over €415 million has been reserved to respond to sudden and unforeseen emergencies worldwide.
Speaking on the decision, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the global humanitarian system is facing unprecedented strain and cannot rely on public funding alone to address the scale of current crises.
She said Europe was stepping up by committing an initial €1.9 billion for 2026, noting that as the world’s largest humanitarian donor, the EU was taking responsibility and leading the global response. Lahbib added that the bloc was also engaging the private sector to mobilise additional resources, describing the situation as a test of global solidarity that Europe is prepared to meet.
