The European Union (EU) has announced a significant humanitarian assistance package totaling €1.5 million (approximately ₦2.65 billion, using current exchange rates for estimation) to support victims of the ongoing conflict and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State, Nigeria. The commitment aims to address the urgent needs of thousands affected by escalating violence in the state.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Gautier Mignot, disclosed the aid package on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, during a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and Minister of State Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu. The allocation comprises €0.5 million from the EU Humanitarian Office (ECHO) for immediate rapid response and an additional €1 million repurposed from the EU-funded SIDPIN project for durable solutions. A specific immediate release of €500,000 (approximately ₦886 million) has been made to address the most pressing humanitarian needs.

Benue State, often referred to as “The Food Basket of the Nation,” has been grappling with a protracted humanitarian crisis primarily driven by farmer-herder clashes and other forms of armed violence. According to the EU and humanitarian partners, over 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes in Benue since 2018, with recent waves of attacks, particularly in June 2025, forcing nearly 23,000 more to flee. The escalation of violence in 2024 and 2025 has tragically claimed some 6,900 lives and displaced over 400,000 people, exacerbating an already dire situation.

The EU’s funding will be channelled through various implementing partners, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), UNHCR, UNICEF, UN-HABITAT, and other international NGOs. The assistance will focus on critical interventions such as providing protection, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH facilities), as well as multi-purpose cash assistance for affected populations. The broader €1.5 million also supports long-term durable solutions in livelihoods and housing for IDPs.

Ambassador Mignot emphasized the EU’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria, stating, “The European Union remains a dedicated partner to Nigeria. In a rapidly changing world where many alliances are being re-evaluated, we aim to be a dependable and consistent ally one that fulfills its promises and supports Nigeria in unlocking its development and prosperity potential.”

Minister Yilwatda expressed the Nigerian government’s appreciation for the EU’s timely intervention, noting that conditions in the IDP camps are dire, with severe lack of shelter, inadequate access to basic amenities, and increased protection risks, especially for women, children, and people with disabilities. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the support reaches the most vulnerable and contributes to rebuilding lives and livelihoods in affected communities.

This latest commitment builds on the EU’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in Nigeria, which in 2025 alone has seen €35 million allocated for humanitarian assistance, primarily focused on nutrition, with a possible top-up under consideration. The EU and the Nigerian government have also stressed the urgent need for increased domestic funding to tackle the escalating humanitarian crises across the country, given the global stretch on international resources.