The European Union has pledged €557 million in humanitarian assistance for Nigeria and other African countries as part of its €1.9 billion aid budget for 2026.
The EU’s delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS confirmed on Wednesday that a portion of the funding would be directed to Nigeria’s north-west region, which has faced ongoing security and humanitarian challenges.
Hadja Lahbib, European commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, announced the commitment at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“The humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain, and public funding alone will not meet the scale of the crisis,” Lahbib said.
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Lahbib emphasised the EU’s role as the world’s largest humanitarian donor, saying Europe was taking political responsibility for the global crisis.
“Europe is taking action, committing an initial €1.9 billion for 2026,” she said. “As the largest humanitarian donor, we are taking our political responsibility and leading the global response. That’s why I’m in Davos: to mobilise the private sector to think bigger, move faster, and act together.”
She also added: “This is a test of solidarity, and Europe is rising to the challenge.”
The EU has also set aside €14.6 million for North Africa to address complex political, economic and social challenges in the region.
More than €415 million has been reserved for responding to sudden-onset emergencies worldwide and maintaining a strategic supply chain for humanitarian operations.
At the Davos forum, Lahbib is also expected to seek private sector finance and innovative solutions to complement public funding and ensure aid reaches those in need.