EU Commits €1.5 Million to Aid Benue Crisis Victims, Calls for Domestic Support

The European Union has pledged €1.5 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of the recent crisis in Yelwata, Benue State, as well as other internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Nigeria. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, during a joint press conference with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ambassador Mignot emphasized the EU’s commitment to Nigeria as a reliable partner in both development and emergency response. He disclosed that the funding would be channeled through the EU’s humanitarian office, ECHO, to provide immediate relief, including food, shelter, and medical care. Additionally, the EU has allocated €1 million under its “Support for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria” project to facilitate long-term solutions such as livelihood programs and housing for displaced communities in Benue.

Call for Local Resource Mobilization
With global humanitarian funding declining, Mignot urged Nigerian authorities and private sector stakeholders to step up domestic resource mobilization. “It is increasingly difficult to rely on international aid alone,” he stated. “Federal and state governments, alongside private institutions, must collaborate to bridge the gap and ensure sustainable support for affected populations.”

Minister Unveils Plans for Anticipatory Response Fund
In response, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, revealed plans to establish an Anticipatory Response Fund—a proactive financing mechanism to address humanitarian crises before they escalate. The fund, which the ministry seeks to integrate into the national budget, aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid by enabling swift interventions in emergencies such as malnutrition, displacement, and natural disasters.

Yilwatda highlighted the dire situation in Benue, where over 800 children are out of school, 200 are stranded in IDP camps, and more than 100 businesses have collapsed due to the crisis. “This EU support is timely, but we must build systems that ensure no Nigerian is left behind in future emergencies,” he said.