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Nigeria and UN Launch US$306 million Appeal Fund to Tackle Urgent Food and Nutrition Crisis in Northeast
Nigeria and UN Launch US$306 million Appeal Fund to Tackle Urgent Food and Nutrition Crisis in Northeast
By: Michael Mike
An appeal for US$306 million has been launched to tackle projected food security and nutrition crisis in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states during the lean season of May to September.
The appeal was launched on Tuesday in Abuja by the Government of Nigeria, national and international partners, with the aim of fast-tracking food assistance, nutrition supplies and services, clean water, healthcare, and protection support to people in severe need during the period in the three states that were heavily impacted by the over a decade Boko Haram crisis.
According to the Government-led Cadre Harmonisé analysis released in March this year, some 4.8 million people are estimated to be facing severe food insecurity, the highest levels in seven years in the BAY states,
The report specified that children, pregnant and lactating women, older persons, and people living with disabilities are among those who are most vulnerable.
The appeal launched on Tuesday is expected to at least provide urgent succour to 2.8 million and make them insusceptible to the lean season food insecurity and nutrition crisis with a multi sectoral plan put in place.
A statement on Tuesday by United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said this food and nutrition crisis, which has been compounded by soaring food prices, is primarily due to continued conflict and insecurity in the BAY states, alongside climate change impacts. It threatens to become catastrophic without immediate and coordinated intervention. The prices of staple foods like beans and maize have increased by 300 to 400 per cent over the past year following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the depreciation of the naira. Inflation is outpacing the ability of families to cope, making essential food items unaffordable.
It added that malnutrition rates are of great concern. Approximately 700,000 children under five are projected to be acutely malnourished over the next six months, including 230,000 who are expected to be severely acutely malnourished and at risk of death if they do not receive timely treatment and nutrition support.
Speaking at the launch of the plan, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar said: “The mobilization of funding and resources to address this lean season food security and nutrition crisis envisaged in the north-eastern part of the country is a step in the right direction in complementing the Federal Government’s efforts to prevent the deaths of people as a result of malnutrition-related complications, adoption of negative coping mechanisms and other health related issues among others.”
Announcing the release of $11 million from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund to jumpstart the emergency response, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall, said, “I am confident that we have the capacity to address these increased needs in support of Government efforts, what we need now are resources. Joining hands together, pooling resources, to save lives and stop the suffering”.
The Acting Representative of UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Rownak Khan, on his part, said: “UNICEF is deeply concerned about the escalating food security and nutrition crisis in the BAY states. The alarming rise in severe acute malnutrition among children underscores the urgent need for immediate action. This year alone, we have seen around 120,000 admissions for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition with complications, far exceeding our estimated target of 90,000. We must ensure that lifesaving nutrition commodities reach every child in need. This is not just a call to action; it is a race against time to save lives and protect the future of millions of vulnerable children,”
While highlighting that immediate actions need to be taken for longer term results, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative ad interim in Nigeria, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, said, “given the urgent situation, urgent interventions are required to support short-, medium- and long-term needs of vulnerable populations. The focus therefore needs to be on building resilience supported by emergency agriculture, including seeds, fertilizer, livestock and technical training, and developing agribusiness for better production and better nutrition”.
The World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director, David Stevenson, said: “We need to get out of conflict into solutions, and the solution is peace and production. Meanwhile, there remains a conflict in the north-east that requires our collective urgent assistance. We are prioritizing access to nutritious foods by providing cash-based transfers, specialized nutritious foods, and by supporting local food solutions.”
The statement by OCHA noted that with the lean season coinciding with the rainy season, there is a need for collective efforts to improve access to drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene to combat the spread of infectious diseases, particularly among the more than 2 million internally displaced persons in camps and overcrowded settlements in the BAY states. This is crucial to help break the vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition that threatens the lives of young children and other vulnerable people.
It further said alongside efforts to protect lives, there is also a need to strengthen people’s resilience by supporting agricultural livelihoods which sustain over 80 per cent of the vulnerable people across the BAY states. Limited funding for agricultural livelihoods continues to perpetuate cyclical food insecurity.
It recalled that this is the fourth time that the UN and humanitarian partners are launching an operational plan for the BAY states pointing to the need to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition. This includes but is not limited to advancing peace-building efforts, improving access to essential health care services, supporting food production systems, enhancing social protection services, and mitigating climate change shocks.
The lean season food security and nutrition crisis multisector plan is part of the 2024 UN-coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan for Nigeria.
Every year, countries in the Sahel face a difficult “lean season” period between planting and harvesting. During this time, food supplies are low, pasture for livestock is scarce, and households rely on various coping strategies to meet their food needs.
Nigeria and UN Launch US$306 million Appeal Fund to Tackle Urgent Food and Nutrition Crisis in Northeast
Police inspector dies from injuries after auto crash in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
A police inspector, Usman Zubairu, has died from injuries sustained in a motor accident in Nasarawa State.
The officer, attached to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit deployed at the Government House in Lafia, was initially involved in a serious road accident before being transferred to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Sources said the officer died at about 2:00 a.m. on March 22 while receiving medical care at the hospital.
His remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary, while burial arrangements are ongoing.
Police inspector dies from injuries after auto crash in Nasarawa
News
EU Unveils Major Investment Drive in Nigeria with €290m Global Gateway Package and €50m Health Manufacturing Facility
EU Unveils Major Investment Drive in Nigeria with €290m Global Gateway Package and €50m Health Manufacturing Facility
By: Michael Mike
The European Union has announced a significant expansion of its strategic partnership with Nigeria, unveiling a €290 million investment package under its Global Gateway Strategy to support digital infrastructure, healthcare manufacturing, agricultural value chains and migration management.
The announcement was made during the Eighth Nigeria–EU Ministerial Dialogue held in Abuja and co-chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas.
European officials said the seven new investment operations demonstrate a renewed political commitment to deepen cooperation between both partners while supporting Nigeria’s development priorities.
“In the current geopolitical context, the European Union is keen to enhance its partnership with Nigeria,” Kallas said. “Bringing more EU investment to Nigeria, aligning with the Renewed Hope agenda for the Nigerian Federal Government is a key priority for both sides.”
The EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, said the investments are designed to support long-term economic growth while strengthening critical sectors.
“Together with Nigeria, we are investing in the modernisation of the digital sector, a stronger health system and in the development of agriculture,” Síkela said. “These Global Gateway investments create quality infrastructure, sustainable jobs and long-term economic opportunities that benefit the Nigerian people while also creating new opportunities for Europe.”
The digital sector received the largest share of the investment package, with €131 million earmarked for improving connectivity, expanding digital services and strengthening digital skills.
Under the programme, the EU will support the rollout of approximately 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable across Nigeria in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The project aims to deliver secure and affordable internet access to an estimated 33 million Nigerians who currently lack reliable connectivity.
It will also support the development of secure and interoperable digital public infrastructure and contribute to Nigeria’s technical talent development initiative aimed at training millions of digital professionals.
Alongside the broader investment package, the development arm of the European Investment Bank, EIB Global, signed a €50 million financing agreement with the Bank of Industry to boost healthcare manufacturing in Nigeria.
The facility will support local companies producing pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostic products and other medical devices through a dedicated credit line aimed at addressing financing gaps in the sector.
The agreement was announced in the presence of senior officials including the Bank of Industry’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olasupo Olusi, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot.
Olusi said the initiative represents a major step toward building Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing capacity.
“This partnership marks a pivotal step in Nigeria’s journey from being a major importer of essential health commodities to becoming a competitive producer within regional and global value chains,” he said.
“By mobilising long-term patient capital into local pharmaceutical, vaccine and diagnostics manufacturing, we are not only strengthening health security but also catalysing industrial growth, skills development and high-quality job creation.”
The initiative is financed under the Human Development Accelerator programme backed by the European Commission and implemented by the European Investment Bank in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Vice President of the European Investment Bank, Ambroise Fayolle, said the partnership demonstrates the EU’s commitment to strengthening health systems across Africa.
“By financing the development and local manufacture of essential medicinal and nutritional products, we enhance access to affordable, safe and high-quality treatments for diseases while improving the resilience of supply chains,” Fayolle said.
The EU investment package also includes €86 million to support agricultural development, particularly in Nigeria’s cocoa and dairy value chains.
The financing will provide easier access to credit for smallholder farmers and agribusiness companies through the Bank of Industry while supporting climate-smart agriculture policies and sustainable production.
Officials said the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to expand dairy production and strengthen cocoa exports to European markets.
Another €16 million will support migration management programmes, including reintegration support for returning migrants and efforts to combat human trafficking networks.
The funding will provide social, economic and psychological assistance for voluntary returnees while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to tackle smuggling and trafficking networks.
The latest commitments build on earlier EU investments in Nigeria in sectors including urban transportation in Lagos, renewable energy, democratic governance and programmes to combat gender-based violence.
With the new package, total Team Europe commitments to Nigeria since 2025 have reached €962.5 million.
Officials said the growing portfolio highlights the EU’s intention to deepen economic cooperation with Nigeria while promoting sustainable development, industrialisation and private sector growth.
The European Investment Bank alone has invested more than €2.3 billion in Nigeria since beginning operations in the country in 1978, supporting projects in infrastructure, climate resilience, innovation, agribusiness and small business financing.
European officials said the new investments are expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to build resilient industries, create jobs and expand opportunities for regional trade across West Africa.
EU Unveils Major Investment Drive in Nigeria with €290m Global Gateway Package and €50m Health Manufacturing Facility
Ex-civilian joint task force member arrested for threatening family with rifle in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace have arrested a former member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State for threatening a family member with a firearm.
According to sources, the arrest occurred at about 0700 hours on March 22 at Maraban Zallaki village, where the ex-CJTF member was found in possession of a locally made rifle and two live.
“The suspect was reportedly threatening to shoot a family member of his ex-wife when troops intervened,” the sources said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is mentally unstable.
He, along with the recovered firearm and ammunition, is currently in troops’ custody for further investigation and appropriate action.
Ex-civilian joint task force member arrested for threatening family with rifle in Plateau
Police inspector dies from injuries after auto crash in Nasarawa
EU Unveils Major Investment Drive in Nigeria with €290m Global Gateway Package and €50m Health Manufacturing Facility
Ex-civilian joint task force member arrested for threatening family with rifle in Plateau
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