Africa

Nigeria

Health
Mental health & psychosocial support
Nutrition
Protection

2016

mission start date

166

national staff

expatriate staff

324 567

people supported

2016

mission start date

166

national staff

expatriate staff

324 567

people supported

Context

In 2025, more than 7.8 million people in Nigeria will be in need of humanitarian assistance, with the vast majority located in the northeastern states (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and northwestern states (Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto) (OCHA, HNO 2025).

In the northeast, sixteen years of armed conflict continue to fuel displacement, poverty, and the collapse of essential services (UN, 2025).

In the northwest, increasingly organized intercommunal violence and banditry are causing widespread destruction, kidnappings, and loss of livelihoods, forcing thousands of families to flee.

More than 5 million people face acute food insecurity, including 5.4 million children and 800,000 pregnant or lactating women at risk of severe malnutrition (WFP, 2025).

The health system, already weakened by a lack of infrastructure, staff, and funding, is struggling to meet growing needs, while the effects of climate change, record inflation, and high fuel costs are further exacerbating household vulnerability (OCHA, HNO 2025).

Without increased and sustained humanitarian support, essential gains in health, nutrition, and protection are at risk of being undermined.

Our approach
Description of the mission

Première Urgence Internationale launched its activities in Nigeria in 2016 with the opening of its first office in Maiduguri, in Borno State. Since then, the mission has implemented an integrated approach to meet the urgent needs of displaced and host populations in the areas of health, nutrition, protection, psychosocial support, and economic recovery in the states of Borno (northeast), Katsina, and Zamfara (northwest). PUI supports health and malnutrition treatment centers (OTP, SC), cares for survivors of gender-based violence, strengthens community protection mechanisms, and trains medical staff to ensure free, quality services.

Première Urgence Internationale
in action

Première Urgence Internationale is implementing an integrated response to meet the needs of internally displaced populations and host communities in northeastern and northwestern Nigeria. Première Urgence Internationale’s action aims to improve access to essential services, strengthen local capacities, and reduce vulnerabilities related to protracted crises, malnutrition, and poverty.

Our teams rehabilitate health facilities, support malnutrition treatment centers (OTP, SC), train Ministry of Health staff, and provide free, high-quality health, nutrition, protection, and psychosocial support services.

Health: Primary health care, sexual and reproductive health (prenatal and postnatal consultations, assisted deliveries, family planning), clinical management of rape (CMR), and health education.
Nutrition: Screening and treatment of acute malnutrition, IYCF counseling, caregiver support, and local “Tom Brown” approach.
Protection and MHPSS: GBV case management, legal support, psychosocial support in safe spaces, and community awareness.
Economic recovery: Village savings and loan associations (VSLA), vocational training, and support for local systems.

Première Urgence Internationale implements a localization approach with four Nigerian NGOs and, in partnership with NORCAP (NRC), pilots the PLCARP platform, dedicated to promoting local and sustainable responses.

©Première Urgence Internationale / Light Oriye

©Première Urgence Internationale / Light Oriye

©Première Urgence Internationale

©Première Urgence Internationale

Audren Ragot

Country Director for the Nigeria Mission © Première Urgence Internationale

“Première Urgence Internationale in Nigeria is responding to a huge humanitarian crisis in a complex security environment. The team is fully committed and gives its best to answer the needs of the most vulnerable. Facing a drop in funding in the country, PUI has to innovate: expanding the operations in new locations, building a network of national NGOs, looking forward to more long-term projects. ”