Olusegun Omasan 
The United States Mission in Nigeria has announced that the country will receive $27 million as part of a broader $536 million humanitarian aid package aimed at supporting vulnerable populations across sub-Saharan Africa. This announcement was made in a statement released by the US Embassy on Tuesday.
The aid package underscores the US government’s commitment to providing life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable people and the generous host communities across the continent. The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, highlighted the significance of this funding, stating, “This assistance will make a real difference in the lives of those most in need in Nigeria and across the continent.”
The comprehensive aid package, formally unveiled by Uzra Zeya, the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, brings the total US humanitarian assistance to sub-Saharan Africa in fiscal year 2024 to nearly $3.7 billion. This funding aims to address the critical needs of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless individuals, and other conflict-affected people throughout the region.
The $27 million allocated to Nigeria will focus on addressing humanitarian challenges, particularly in the Sahel region, where the aid will support efforts to build durable solutions such as voluntary returns and refugee integration. Ambassador Mills reiterated the United States’ commitment to supporting Nigeria, stating, “This $27 million in aid demonstrates the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria in addressing humanitarian challenges. We stand with Nigeria in its efforts to provide for vulnerable populations and build resilience against food insecurity and climate change impacts.”
The statement from the US Embassy also noted that the funding would be channeled through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, as well as USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, ensuring that the aid reaches those in need effectively and efficiently.
