EU pledges more support for Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, malnutrition

Gautier Mignot, the European Union (EU) ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says the bloc is actively supporting Nigeria’s fight against insecurity and funding peace-building initiatives across the country.

The envoy noted that insecurity has drawn significant attention in recent times — and “for good reasons”.

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“But there are others, like poverty and social inequalities. We have also been insisting on the need to urgently tackle, with humanitarian and life-saving assistance, the malnutrition crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of children in the north-west and north-east,” he said.

“Protecting all populations, particularly minorities and internally displaced persons (IDPs), is essential. This is what we have done, in particular, after the Yelwata killing in Benue State in June.

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“In the north, we have launched a ‘northern package’ of some €300 million in Team Europe funding.

“The EU stands with populations affected by humanitarian crises, especially children and women in the north-west and north-east.

“While the EU may not fill the vacuum left by those who have withdrawn, Nigeria can count on us as its reliable partner at all times. This year alone, we have committed nearly €50 million in humanitarian assistance to address the problem of malnutrition.”