Nigeria Has the World’s Largest Number of People in Poverty, EU Says, Pledging €45 Million in Aid

European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Gautier Mignot said in Abuja that Nigeria probably has the world’s largest number of people living below the poverty threshold. He cited 133 million Nigerians in multidimensional poverty in 2022 and said estimates suggest conditions have worsened since then. The EU committed nearly €45 million in humanitarian assistance in 2026, particularly for conflict-affected and crisis-prone areas, while working to connect emergency aid with long-term solutions. Mignot said poverty reduction requires peace, security, dignity and respect for human rights.