By Anietie Akpan
The European Union (EU) and UNICEF have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting vulnerable children and families in Northeast and Northwest Nigeria through strong nutrition sector coordination and delivery of lifesaving supplies.
In a release dated December 19, from UNICEF Nigeria, Communication Specialist, Sussan Akila said, with support from EU Humanitarian Aid, UNICEF has maintained stable pipelines of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and therapeutic milk, reaching thousands of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
In 2025 alone, with EU support, over 20,000 children under five in the Northeast and 14,000 in the Northwest have received treatment, helping them recover and grow.
The quality of treatment programmes for severely malnourished children in both regions continues to exceed international SPHERE standards, with cure rates above 90% and minimal default and mortality rates.
“Our partnership with UNICEF shows the European Union’s commitment to saving innocent lives and supporting families affected by crisis in northern Nigeria. Together, we are making sure that no child is left behind in the fight against malnutrition,” said Alexandre Castellano, Head of EU Humanitarian Aid operations in Nigeria.
“Every child deserves a chance to survive and grow. Thanks to the EU’s humanitarian support, UNICEF can deliver lifesaving nutrition to the hardest-to-reach children, even in the most challenging circumstances. We call on all partners to join us in supporting national efforts and in building a better future for every child in Nigeria,” said Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.
The joint action, funded by a EUR 3.5 million grant from the EU, covers the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states in the Northeast and Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara in the Northwest. The program targets infants, children under five, pregnant and lactating women, and persons with disabilities to ensure no one is left behind. It is implemented in close collaboration with the government at both federal and state levels.
Key achievements so far include:
- Procurement and distribution of over 60,000 cartons of RUTF; active case finding and referral for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) are ongoing, with over 750,000 admissions supported by UNICEF and partners in 2025.
- The implementation of nutrition surveillance and SMART surveys across nine states has provided crucial data to guide the humanitarian response.
- Strong sector coordination, with performance monitoring and collaboration among government, humanitarian partners, and local communities.
The EU and UNICEF call on all partners to continue supporting efforts to end child malnutrition and build a better future for every child in Nigeria.
