Nigeria to Lead Humanitarian Coordination by 2027

The Federal Government of Nigeria will take full leadership of the humanitarian coordination system from the United Nations (UN) starting January 1, 2027, as disclosed by Dr. Bernard Doro, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Poverty Reduction.

This announcement was made during a joint humanitarian transit workshop co-hosted by the Federal Ministry and the UN in Abuja. The transition is described as a significant shift in the country's aid architecture, particularly in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009.

Dr. Doro emphasized that Nigeria is among eight countries identified for this inter-agency humanitarian reset, which involves the withdrawal of central humanitarian coordination from international organizations, placing the Nigerian government as the primary actor in addressing humanitarian concerns.

The workshop also highlighted the global humanitarian financing crisis, with a projected shortfall in funding for 2025, affecting millions of vulnerable Nigerians who will require humanitarian assistance.