Abuja: The European Union (EU) has pledged 1.5 million Euros (£1.5 million) to assist victims affected by the conflict in Benue State, Nigeria. This financial commitment aims to address immediate and long-term needs arising from the crisis. The allocated funds include £0.5 million from the EU Humanitarian Office ECHO for rapid response and £1 million from the repurposed SIDPIN project for sustainable solutions. Agencies such as IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, and UN-HABITAT, alongside other international NGOs, will manage the humanitarian response efforts.
According to African Press Organization, the announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and other key officials. The meeting, held in Abuja on July 14, 2025, focused on establishing a collaborative approach to tackling the nutrition emergency in Nigeria’s northern regions. The parties agreed to create a task force to define roles, enhance interventions, and coordinate a joint food security assessment.
Subsequently, on July 19-20, Minister Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Ambassador Gautier Mignot conducted a joint visit to Sokoto State with humanitarian partners including UNICEF, ACF, and MSF. During their visit, they met with the Executive Governor of Sokoto, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, and toured nutrition stabilization centers for children under 5. These centers, supported by UNICEF and operated by ACF and MSF, provide critical care to address malnutrition. The visit aimed to assess the situation on the ground and discuss immediate steps to mitigate the crisis.