FG, EU Roll Out €15m Lifeline For Nigeria’s IDPs: Governors, UN Agencies Back New Hope For Millions Displaced

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the European Union (EU), state governors, and international humanitarian agencies, has unveiled two groundbreaking initiatives aimed at restoring dignity and rebuilding the lives of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the country.

The programmes — EU Support for Internally Displaced Persons in Yobe, Adamawa, Benue and Kano States (SIDPIN), and EU Support for Protection, Assistance and Durable Solutions in Sokoto (SPADS) — were launched in Abuja with a combined funding of €15 million (over ₦25 billion).

Speaking at the launch, Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, described the initiatives as a powerful demonstration of Europe’s solidarity with Nigeria in tackling one of its most pressing humanitarian crises.

> “Together with the Federal and State authorities, and our partners including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), UN-Habitat, UNHCR and the Danish Refugee Council, we will spearhead local integration in urban and urbanising areas,” Mignot said.
“Our focus will be on durable solutions, with special attention to women and children. Displacement in Nigeria is not just about numbers — it is about lives interrupted, dreams deferred, and communities uprooted. These initiatives will help restore hope, stability and opportunity to millions.”

According to official data, over 3.5 million Nigerians remain displaced by conflicts and insecurity, particularly in the North East, North Central and North West regions.

Governors Welcome Lifeline

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, in his remarks, described displacement as a “recurring national tragedy” and vowed his administration’s full support for the programme.

> “In Benue, as in Adamawa, Sokoto, Yobe and Kano, displacement is not an abstract statistic. It is mothers raising children under makeshift shelters, farmers unable to till their lands, and host communities stretched beyond capacity. The solution must go beyond emergency relief to embrace safety, security, economic empowerment, and community cohesion,” Alia stressed.
Governors of Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe, who spoke through representatives, applauded the EU for shifting the focus from temporary relief to long-term recovery, noting that the projects will help rebuild lives, strengthen resilience, and foster peace.

UN, Stakeholders Push For Durable Solutions

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, emphasized the importance of global and local collaboration in restoring the dignity of displaced persons.

> “These initiatives represent more than aid — they are a commitment to giving IDPs back their dignity, their livelihoods, and their future,” Fall said.

Stakeholders collectively agreed that beyond relief, Nigeria must address the root causes of displacement — including insecurity, weak governance, and economic marginalisation — to prevent a new cycle of crises.

With this bold partnership, millions of displaced Nigerians now have renewed hope for lasting solutions, reintegration, and a chance to rebuild their lives.