The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, has stated that Nigeria likely holds the highest number of people living below the poverty threshold globally, describing extreme poverty as one of the country’s most formidable development hurdles.

Speaking in Abuja during the commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the envoy cited statistics showing that over 133 million Nigerians experienced multidimensional poverty, with subsequent estimates indicating that the crisis has continued to worsen.

To help combat these widespread challenges, Mignot announced that the European Union has committed nearly €45 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria for 2026, aimed particularly at conflict-affected and crisis-prone regions.

He emphasized that the EU is actively collaborating with the Nigerian government, international organizations, and local civil society groups to bridge the gap between immediate humanitarian aid and long-term economic resilience.

While acknowledging various federal social protection interventions—such as targeted cash transfers and social safety net programs—the ambassador underscored that lasting poverty eradication is inextricably linked to regional peace, security, human rights, and robust institutional coordination.