The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is set to wind down its operations in Nigeria, marking a significant shift in international humanitarian support for the country.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe, disclosed the development on Wednesday during a Validation Workshop on the Anticipatory Action Framework, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, personally communicated the decision to him. Professor Goshwe expressed deep concern over the move, especially given Nigeria’s ongoing humanitarian challenges, including devastating floods and persistent insecurity, particularly in the Northeast.
“It’s unfortunate that this decision is coming at a time when humanitarian needs across the country are still quite pressing,” Goshwe said, while acknowledging UNOCHA’s past contributions to crisis-affected communities.
Despite the setback, he reiterated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to addressing disaster-related issues and strengthening resilience across the nation.
UNOCHA’s withdrawal from Nigeria is part of a broader organizational retrenchment amid a severe global funding crisis. The UN agency, responsible for coordinating emergency responses to humanitarian crises, recently announced plans to reduce its global workforce by 20% and scale back its presence in nine countries, including Nigeria.
In a letter to staff, UNOCHA chief Tom Fletcher cited a nearly $60 million budget shortfall for 2025 and surging global humanitarian demands as reasons for the drastic measures. “The humanitarian community was already underfunded, overstretched and literally, under attack. Now, we face a wave of brutal cuts,” Fletcher wrote.
The agency plans to exit or adjust operations in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Zimbabwe, while focusing on delivering more concentrated responses in fewer, high-priority locations. Approximately 500 staff members out of its 2,600-strong workforce are expected to be laid off.
The decision follows months of cost-saving measures including a hiring freeze and travel restrictions, which saved an estimated $3.7 million. However, UNOCHA stressed that the downsizing is purely financial and not indicative of reduced humanitarian needs.
With UNOCHA’s departure, Nigeria may face a critical gap in international aid coordination, especially in regions still grappling with the aftermath of conflict and climate-related disasters.
