ABUJA — Nigeria on July 14 outlined plans to assume greater responsibility for coordinating humanitarian responses across the country, moving away from a system long dominated by international donors and U.N. agencies.
At a transition workshop in Abuja, Nigerian officials and U.N. representatives began talks to transfer more planning, coordination and financing duties to national institutions. Humanitarian Minister Bernard Doro said the change is a transition rather than a withdrawal of international assistance, with the U.N. and partners continuing to provide technical support.
U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Fall said the new model aims to mobilise more government and private‑sector funding amid pressure on global donor budgets. Nigeria faces multiple crises, conflict, displacement, food insecurity, floods, climate shocks and public health emergencies and the U.N. has warned nearly 35 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger this year as global aid budgets shrink.
Doro said his ministry will work with federal and state authorities, aid agencies and affected communities to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery, and plans to lead the development of Nigeria’s 2027 humanitarian plan with technical backing from OCHA and the U.N. system.