The United Nations’ top emergency relief agency, UNOCHA, is pulling out of Nigeria, according to an announcement made by Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe.
He disclosed the development on Wednesday at a strategic session on Nigeria’s disaster preparedness framework in Abuja.
Goshwe stated that Mohamed Fall, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, relayed the news of the agency’s planned departure.
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The Minister acknowledged UNOCHA’s critical role, especially in responding to humanitarian crises in the Northeast, and said its exit comes at a challenging time for the country.
He criticized the withdrawal as ill-timed, given Nigeria’s ongoing struggles with natural disasters and insecurity.
Nonetheless, he emphasized President Tinubu’s resolve to strengthen disaster management and poverty alleviation efforts domestically.
The decision aligns with OCHA’s broader cost-cutting strategy in response to a looming financial crunch.
With global humanitarian needs surging and donations dwindling, the agency plans to cut staff by nearly 20% and downsize its activities in countries like Iraq, Libya, and Pakistan alongside Nigeria.
A letter from OCHA head Tom Fletcher described the changes as necessary due to a severe funding crisis, not a reduction in humanitarian needs.
Despite previous budget-saving measures such as a hiring freeze, the agency now faces what Fletcher called “a wave of brutal cuts.”
