US Aid Cut Impacts 250,000 in Yobe State

A United States executive stop-work order, signed by President Donald Trump in 2025, has halted funding for vital humanitarian operations in Nigeria, impacting over 250,000 people in Yobe State.

The Yobe State Government has disclosed the significant impact of this decision. Dr Muhammad Goje, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), confirmed the figures during a recent breakfast show.

For over a decade, the United States has been the largest and most consistent donor to humanitarian operations in Northeast Nigeria’s BAY states — Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe. This funding has been critical for life-saving food assistance, nutrition, healthcare, protection services, and support for displaced families.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

According to Dr Goje, the suspension of US funding has directly affected more than 250,000 individuals within Yobe State alone. This new funding stance has forced numerous humanitarian agencies to consolidate their operations, compete for severely limited resources, or even withdraw entirely from the region.

Among the quarter of a million affected, approximately 13,000 are children out of school. Other vulnerable groups include internally displaced persons (IDPs), survivors requiring gender-based violence (GBV) protection, and beneficiaries of health services, employment opportunities, and other crucial humanitarian sectors.

Funding Gaps and Job Losses

In 2024, the Nigeria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) required US$926.5 million to assist 4.4 million people. Of this, about US$556 million was received, with the United States contributing approximately US$316 million, representing around 57% of the total funding. This established the US as by far the single largest donor to the plan.

Regarding food security, Dr Goje noted that the stop-work order means over 650 metric tons of food, distributed monthly by the World Food Programme (WFP), will cease from February 2026. This food assistance currently supports around 65,000 households each month.

Across the North-East region, the funding suspension has also led to substantial job losses, with about 2,508 humanitarian workers losing their positions. This directly impacts thousands of their dependent family members, exacerbating the economic challenges in the area.

State Government Intervention

The Yobe State Government has begun implementing measures aimed at reducing the funding gap created by the withdrawal of this vital aid. These efforts are crucial to mitigating the severe consequences for the affected population.