The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is preparing to cease its operations in Nigeria, a move confirmed by Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe.
Goshwe made the announcement on Wednesday at a workshop aimed at validating the Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
He noted that the decision was communicated to him by Mohamed Fall, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria.
While expressing appreciation for UNOCHA’s contributions, particularly in the insurgency-affected Northeastern region, the Minister lamented the timing of the agency’s exit amid persistent humanitarian issues such as flooding and insecurity.
He, however, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing these challenges head-on.
The agency’s decision is part of a larger global downsizing initiative. Facing a $60 million funding gap for 2025, OCHA revealed it would scale back operations in nine countries, including Nigeria, and trim its global workforce by around 500 out of 2,600 staff members.
OCHA Director of Communications Najwa Mekki confirmed that the agency would now concentrate its resources in fewer countries to ensure more focused and impactful interventions.
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