Abuja: The European Union (EU) has allocated £1.5 million to support victims of the recent conflict in Benue State, Nigeria. This financial commitment is structured through a rapid humanitarian response from the EU Humanitarian Office ECHO, amounting to £0.5 million, and a repurposing of the EU-funded SIDPIN project for durable solutions, contributing an additional £1 million. International organizations such as IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, and UN-HABITAT are actively involved in the response efforts.

According to African Press Organization, the announcement was made by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Gautier Mignot, during a meeting with Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda. The meeting, held on July 14, 2025, in Abuja, also included the Honourable Minister of State Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Permanent Secretary Dr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, and other ministry directors. The discussions aimed to establish a task force to define roles and accelerate interventions addressing the nutritional emergency in Nigeria’s northern regions.

The EU and Nigerian officials agreed to collaborate on a joint food security assessment, streamline supply chain processes, and establish a collaborative platform with partners to coordinate the humanitarian response. These efforts aim to address the high levels of malnutrition and food insecurity affecting the region.

On July 19-20, Minister Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and Ambassador Gautier Mignot, accompanied by humanitarian partners including UNICEF, ACF, and MSF, undertook a joint visit to Sokoto State. During the visit, they met with the Executive Governor of Sokoto, H.E. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, and visited nutrition stabilization centers for children under five. These centers, operated by ACF and MSF with UNICEF support, provided the delegation with insights into the situation and facilitated discussions on urgent next steps to address the crisis.