The European Union (EU) has announced €557 million in humanitarian aid for Nigeria and other African countries from its 2026 €1.9 billion budget.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Modestus Chukwulaka, press officer to the EU’s delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the aid would focus on Nigeria’s north-west region.

According to the statement, Hadja Lahbib, European commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, highlighted the EU’s commitment at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

“The humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain, and public funding alone will not meet the scale of the crisis,” Lahbib said.

“Europe is taking action, committing an initial €1.9 billion for 2026. As the largest humanitarian donor, we are taking our political responsibility and leading the global response. That’s why I’m in Davos: to mobilise the private sector to think bigger, move faster, and act together.

“This is a test of solidarity, and Europe is rising to the challenge.”

The statement added that a separate €14.6 million will be allocated to North Africa to respond to “complex political, economic and social challenges”.

It noted that more than €415 million has been reserved for responding to sudden-onset emergencies worldwide and maintaining a strategic supply chain.

The statement said Lahbib is expected to mobilise private sector finance and innovative solutions at Davos to complement public funding and reach people in need.