EU Commits €45M to Combat Nigeria's Poverty Crisis

Gautier Mignot, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, stated that Nigeria probably has the highest number of people living below the poverty threshold globally. He made this remark during the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty in Abuja.

Mignot revealed that the EU has committed nearly €45 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria in 2026, aimed particularly at supporting conflict-affected and crisis-prone areas. He cited that 133 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty in 2022, with estimates suggesting the situation has worsened since then.

The EU's humanitarian assistance is provided through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, focusing on linking emergency assistance to long-term resilience and sustainable solutions. Mignot acknowledged the Nigerian government's efforts to tackle poverty through various social investment programs, including the National Social Safety Net Programme and targeted cash transfers.