By Amos Aar
THE EUROPEAN Union (EU), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), on Wednesday launched a €13 million (₦23,385,700,000.00) project aimed at strengthening social protection systems in Nigeria.
The project is to begin with four pilot states; Benue, Abia, Oyo, and Sokoto, as well as at the federal level.
The initiative, known as the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection Systems in Nigeria (SUSI), was officially flagged off Wednesday in Makurdi, Benue State capital, against the backdrop of recent violent attack on Yelwata community that claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands.
At the launch event, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Gautier Mignot, said the timing of the project could not be more significant given the humanitarian situation in Benue State.
He described the recent bloodshed as “a painful reminder of how vulnerable communities are to shocks,” noting that the EU’s partnership was aimed at creating inclusive protection systems to ensure no one is left without support in times of crisis.
Amb. Mignot had visited the Makurdi International Market temporary IDP camp on Tuesday, where he interacted with displaced persons and reiterated the EU’s commitment to the SUSI project, a pledge which has now taken form with the launch.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, said that the project would build mechanisms that quickly reach those in desperate situations.
She stressed that “when families are forced to flee violence, lose livelihoods or fall into poverty, social protection becomes a life-saving measure,” especially for children.
Vanessa Phala, who heads the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, noted that the SUSI project is rooted in the principle that social protection is not a privilege but a right.
She said the project would enhance policy and legal frameworks, data systems, and financial mechanisms to ensure that every Nigerian has the opportunity to live in dignity.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, while welcoming the intervention, said Benue communities have suffered cycles of violence, displacement, and economic hardship.
He said the project presents an opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the state’s ability to deliver aid and recovery support to affected populations.
According to him, “this initiative is timely and deeply needed. It equips us with systems to reach affected families swiftly, protect the most vulnerable, and rebuild lives with dignity.”
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, who also addressed the gathering, described SUSI as aligning perfectly with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the project’s multi-stakeholder structure would ensure no family is left unsupported in the face of future shocks or emergencies.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Director General of Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Prof. Jerome Andohol, framed the project within the state’s broader development needs.
He described Benue’s economic challenges, citing a poverty index of 53.3% and a misery index of 38.3%, noting that food insecurity and displacement threaten the state’s role as Nigeria’s food basket.
He said SUSI’s focus on improving access to basic services like education, healthcare, and livelihood support offers a pathway to breaking the cycle of poverty in the state.
He further commended UNICEF for its longstanding collaboration with Benue, particularly in helping the state draft a 10-year development plan, a nutrition policy, and a social protection policy.
Andohol said Benue was committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in implementing the project.
Speaking on the side-lines, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, expressed optimism that the data collection components of SUSI would enable both federal and state governments to plan better responses to humanitarian and development challenges.
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to all Nigerians and pledged Benue’s support for the implementation of the project under the leadership of Governor Alia.
