The European Union has announced the allocation of €500,000 (approximately ₦900 million) in humanitarian aid to address the growing malnutrition crisis affecting children and mothers in Nigeria’s northeastern and northwestern regions.
In a statement released on Friday, the EU said the funding will be implemented through the Nigeria Red Cross Society and is expected to reach around 170,000 households across Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara states.
“In response to the alarming levels of malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria, the European Union is allocating €500,000 (over ₦900 million) in humanitarian aid to provide emergency assistance to children and mothers suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
“This funding will enable the Nigeria Red Cross Society to assist approximately 170,000 households affected by or at risk of malnutrition in the northern states of Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara,” the EU stated.
The intervention will focus on community outreach, malnutrition screening, and outpatient care for children suffering from uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. The most critical cases will be referred to healthcare centres for specialised treatment in line with national guidelines.
The programme will also deliver lifesaving therapeutic food to over 30,000 children in urgent need of treatment and will expand ongoing health and nutrition services provided by the Red Cross. In addition to immediate support, the initiative aims to strengthen long-term resilience in affected communities by improving access to clean water, sanitation, hygiene, and protection services.
This funding is part of the EU’s wider support for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund, which enables rapid action in emergencies that do not prompt large-scale international appeals.
“In the Northeast (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States) and Northwest (Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States) of Nigeria, an estimated 5.44 million children under five are acutely malnourished.
“Two million are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition requiring lifesaving treatment, especially during the peak of the lean season from June to September 2025,” the statement added.
The worsening nutrition crisis is driven by ongoing conflict, insecurity, displacement, climate shocks such as flooding, economic pressures, and inadequate access to healthcare. Poor maternal and child feeding practices also continue to contribute to the high rates of malnutrition.
The European Commission’s humanitarian aid department emphasized that the funding reflects the EU’s commitment to addressing urgent humanitarian needs in Nigeria and globally.
