Our work in Nigeria

Overview

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, holds vast potential. It is rich in natural resources, culture and innovation. Nigeria faces a complex crisis, with economic struggles, insecurity and environmental challenges worsening hardship for millions.

Rising inflation and the high cost of living have made necessities like food and fuel unaffordable, while unemployment pushes many people into informal, low-paying jobs. At the same time, widespread insecurity from kidnappings and insurgency continues to devastate communities, particularly in the north, forcing displacement and a lack of economic growth.

Clashes between farmers and herders over land resources further contribute to the conflict and displacement of about 2.1 million people. Additionally, disasters caused by the climate crisis, such as flooding and desertification, have displaced entire communities and worsened food insecurity, leaving many struggling with hunger.

Together, these factors create a vicious cycle of poverty, violence and instability, making it harder for Nigerians to achieve economic and social stability. Despite these challenges, communities continue to show remarkable resilience, with Tearfund and its local partners actively providing essential services and fostering sustainable recovery and development.

Our work in Nigeria

Tearfund Nigeria works to tackle poverty and injustice through integrated approaches of community development, disaster response and recovery, disaster risk reduction, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) reduction, climate action and peacebuilding. We work in partnership with local communities, churches and organisations.

Transforming Communities
Our vision is for a global church movement transforming the holistic wellbeing of people living in the greatest poverty.

Crisis to resilience
Our vision is to see resilient, hope-filled communities equipped and empowered to prepare for and respond to the crises they face.

Reconciled, peace-filled societies
Our vision is to enable those who are called to address the effects and systemic causes of violence to bring sustainable peace in their communities and wider society.

Environmental and economic sustainability
Our vision is for a world where every person’s basic needs are met and all have the chance to flourish within environmental limits.

Transforming Communities

Tearfund's goal in Nigeria is to see 4.6 million people released from spiritual and material poverty by inspiring and mobilising 30,000 local churches by March 2027. These churches, in turn, mobilise their communities to take action and meet local needs in areas such as food production, water supply and sanitation, healthcare, and education.

Peacebuilding

Tearfund’s peacebuilding work in Nigeria is concentrated in regions affected by persistent conflict and inter-communal distrust. Our peacebuilding interventions seek to:

• Address the underlying causes of conflict, including competition over resources and social marginalisation.
• Encourage trust and reconciliation among communities with longstanding divisions.
• Create spaces where women, youth and local faith leaders can contribute meaningfully to peace and justice.

Crisis to resilience

In north-east Nigeria, Tearfund has been supporting our local partner to provide emergency assistance to communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. This is done through cash grants to meet immediate food needs and training in climate-smart farming so that people are equipped to grow their own crops for both food and income. People in communities are learning to use what they have to become stronger and better able to handle crises.

Environmental and economic sustainability

In partnership with AIDS Care Education and Training Society (ACET) and Transfer of Appropriate Technology and Expertise (TASTE), we’ve established recycling hubs that transform plastic waste into saleable products and convert bio-waste, such as groundnut shells and rice bran, into eco-friendly briquettes. These initiatives are creating income and employment opportunities for young people in marginalised communities, promoting both economic resilience and environmental responsibility.

Beyond recycling, we’re engaging local governments and state institutions to advocate for stronger waste management policies, aiming to curb indiscriminate dumping and promote the creation of green, fair jobs. Our long-term goal is ambitious yet vital: to eliminate environmental threats and pave the way for a sustainable, thriving future for all.

Advocacy

We envision a just and sustainable world where people are free from poverty and empowered to live out their God-given potential. Through strategic partnerships with institutions, civil society organisations, and all levels of government, we work to influence attitudes, behaviours and policies that lead to lasting change.

One powerful example is our collaboration with the Plateau State Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Mineral Development to develop the Plateau State Waste Management Framework. This is a transformative initiative designed to reshape waste practices, promote environmental responsibility, and inspire policy reforms across the state.