The European Union (EU) has refuted claims that it has reduced its humanitarian assistance to Nigeria, following recent statements by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) linking worsening malnutrition in the country to shrinking international aid.
In a statement issued Monday, the EU Delegation to Nigeria described as “unsubstantiated and inaccurate” the assertion by MSF that the EU, alongside the United States and United Kingdom, had made “massive budget cuts” affecting the treatment of malnourished children in northern Nigeria.
MSF’s Country Representative, Ahmed Aldikhari, had earlier claimed in a press release that 2024 marked a significant escalation in Nigeria’s nutritional crisis, with a 25 percent increase in cases over the previous year. He attributed the worsening conditions in part to reduced donor support.
However, the EU clarified that its humanitarian assistance through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) in Nigeria for the first half of 2025 remains consistent with that of the same period in 2024. It further noted that additional funding top-ups are being planned, as in previous years.
“A significant part of ECHO’s assistance in Nigeria continues to target nutrition, health, and emergency food support,” the EU stated.
The EU also acknowledged MSF’s revised press release, which removed the reference to EU funding cuts, and reiterated its appreciation for MSF’s work in Nigeria—some of which is directly supported by EU funding. The statement highlighted the EU Ambassador’s recent visit to Sokoto State, where he witnessed MSF’s humanitarian efforts firsthand.
Emphasizing the need for accurate public communication, the EU urged continued collaboration among stakeholders and reiterated its commitment to maintaining financial support within its partnership framework with Nigeria. It also echoed calls for increased domestic and international funding to combat the urgent nutrition crisis in the country’s North-West and North-East regions.
