• Announces €20m help package deal for Nigerian armed forces to fight terrorism
Linus Aleke in Abuja
The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gautier Mignot, has mentioned Nigeria in all probability has the best variety of folks dwelling under the poverty threshold globally, describing poverty as one of many nation’s largest challenges.
This is because it additionally introduced €20 million in help for the Armed Forces of Nigeria below the European Peace Facility, as a part of coordinated efforts to fight terrorism and restore peace to distressed areas throughout the nation.
The envoy spoke in Abuja on the weekend on the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the place he known as for sustained efforts by the federal authorities, growth companions and different stakeholders to deal with the nation’s poverty disaster.
“Today, Nigeria is probably the country in the world with the highest number of people living under the poverty threshold,” he mentioned.
Mignot additionally disclosed that the European Union had dedicated practically €45million in humanitarian help to Nigeria in 2026, significantly to help conflict-affected and crisis-prone areas.
He described poverty as a serious concern for Nigeria’s worldwide companions, stressing that it required pressing consideration and sustained dedication within the years forward.
Mignot cited figures indicating that 133 million Nigerians had been dwelling in multidimensional poverty in 2022, including that estimates from totally different sources prompt the scenario had worsened since then.
He mentioned the EU’s humanitarian help was being supplied via the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, with explicit consideration to communities affected by battle and different crises.
“Through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, ECO, the European Union has committed again this year almost 45 million euros for humanitarian assistance in Nigeria, particularly in conflict-affected and crisis-prone areas”.
According to him, the EU is working with the Nigerian authorities, humanitarian organisations, growth companions and native communities to make sure that emergency help is linked to long-term resilience and sustainable options.
He defined that humanitarian interventions handle speedy wants, whereas poverty discount programmes give attention to creating lasting pathways out of poverty.
Speaking on the theme of the occasion, United for Peace and Human Rights, Safe Homes for All, the ambassador mentioned significant poverty discount was inconceivable with out peace, safety, dignity and respect for human rights.
He added that households unable to satisfy their primary wants may hardly really feel safe or totally get pleasure from their elementary rights.
Mignot acknowledged the federal authorities’s efforts to deal with poverty via social funding programmes, focused money transfers, livelihood help and measures to strengthen social safety techniques.
He listed the National Social Safety Net Programme, the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, and the Renewed Hope Social Protection Programme among the many initiatives aimed toward supporting susceptible Nigerians.
He additionally highlighted the Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project, supported via Nigeria’s partnership with the World Bank, saying the initiative was anticipated to enhance help to susceptible households and strengthen their resilience.
The envoy mentioned the EU was complementing these efforts via its Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria programme, which works with authorities establishments and implementing companions, together with UNICEF, GIZ, the International Labour Organisation, ActionAid and Oxfam.
He disclosed that the programme coated Abia, Benue, Oyo, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa and Borno states.
According to him, the intervention focuses on strengthening social safety insurance policies, increasing social registers to establish extra poor and susceptible households, and bettering knowledge techniques for planning and useful resource allocation.
Mignot mentioned multidimensional poverty assessments helped governments establish overlapping deprivations in schooling, healthcare, diet and dwelling requirements, enabling them to focus on interventions extra successfully.
He added that the EU had supported the evaluate of Nigeria’s National Social Protection Policy, in addition to the event of state social safety insurance policies and a Social Protection Bill.
In associated growth, the EU additionally introduced €20 million in help for the Armed Forces of Nigeria below the European Peace Facility, as a part of coordinated efforts to fight terrorism and restore peace to distressed areas throughout the nation.
Ambassador Mignot introduced the help package deal throughout a working go to to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), at his workplace at Ship House, Abuja.
According to an announcement by the Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the assembly with General Musa additionally supplied a chance for each events to debate important bilateral defence agreements, together with a evaluate of safety co-operation between Nigeria and the EU.
Speaking through the go to, Ambassador Mignot recommended the minister for his efforts to enhance the nation’s safety scenario.
He additionally used the chance to ask him to a gathering of defence ministers scheduled to happen in Brussels later within the 12 months.
Ambassador Mignot disclosed that an EU technical delegation would go to Abuja in November to agree on the small print of the supply.
He additional recommended the latest convention of previous and serving commanders of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which was attended by representatives of the African Union and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.
For his half, General Musa expressed gratitude to the EU for its constant help for Nigeria. He assured the Ambassador of the president’s dedication to making sure the security of Nigerians and selling the nation’s growth.
He defined that relative peace was regularly returning to the nation on account of the commendable efforts of the Armed Forces and different safety companies.
However, he famous that kidnapping alongside main highways and assaults on remoted communities remained persistent challenges that the authorities had been working to deal with.
In this regard, he mentioned Nigeria was anticipating the supply of ten assault helicopters, unmanned aerial autos (UAVs) and different important navy gear, with the help of the President.
The Minister defined that the shrinking of the Lake Chad Basin, on which greater than 50 million folks rely for his or her livelihoods, remained a possible supply of instability.
He harassed that denying terrorists entry to their strongholds on the islands of Lake Chad remained a key operational precedence for the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
On the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Programme, the Minister emphasised that the initiative ought to prioritise victims of the battle, together with affected navy personnel.
