UNICEF to assist Nigeria’s humanitarian plans with $270m

Kunle Sanni, AbujaAugust 22, 2023

1 minute read

Betta Edu discusses Nigeria's humanitarian plans with UNICEF representatives

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has promised to support Nigeria’s humanitarian response and poverty alleviation plans with $270million.

This was disclosed by the Country Representative of UNICEF, Christian Mundate, and the Chief of Health & HIV/AIDS, Eduardo Celades, who paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Betta Edu in her office in Abuja on Tuesday.

Edu was among the 45 ministers sworn in on Monday at the State House Conference Center, Abuja by President Bola Tinubu.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director of Information, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Rhoda Iliya, the UNICEF chief also assured Edu of technical support to build capacity of the ministry’s staff as well as support the development of a Humanitarian Response Protocol for Nigeria to guide all humanitarian actors as this will facilitate effective coordination.

UNICEF will also support the establishment of a National Humanitarian Situation Room or Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre (H-EOC) to monitor, mitigate and prevent humanitarian emergencies and build resilience in the system.

Responding, Edu informed the delegation that the Federal Government is committed to lifting 133 million poor Nigerians out of poverty in a phased approach; especially the 71 million extremely poor Nigerians who live under one dollar ninety-five cents a day.

She charged UNICEF to also draw up plans towards supporting the FG on poverty alleviation.

“Time is of essence and we need to run at the speed of light to roll out social programs that will bring relieve to the burdens of the poor. Nigerians are eagerly waiting for full implementation of the renewed hope agenda, the time for intense action is now,” she said.

She also assured them of the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accountability in all its processes, adding that the engagement with partners like UNICEF will continue until the government achieves its target.