The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, has announced a significant initiative by the federal government to establish a trust fund dedicated to emergency and humanitarian responses within Nigeria.
Dr. Edu disclosed this while addressing inquiries from reporters during an interview regarding the ministry’s objectives and its commitment to rekindling hope for millions of Nigerians.
She emphasized that the trust fund will be complemented by meticulous follow-up protocols designed to monitor the beneficiaries of the social intervention programs under her ministry’s purview.
Dr. Edu underlined that humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation constitute the flagship program of the administration, assuring Nigerians of her unwavering dedication to this cause.
“We are taking proactive steps to create a trust fund specifically tailored for emergency responses and humanitarian aid within the country. This includes establishing well-defined protocols governing when, how, and who should benefit from these responses,” Dr. Edu explained.
She stressed the government’s determination not to rely solely on public funds for poverty alleviation and humanitarian crisis responses. She expressed confidence in the President’s commitment, particularly in light of savings resulting from the fuel subsidy removal.
Furthermore, Dr. Edu outlined plans to engage the private sector actively in addressing humanitarian issues and poverty alleviation, reminiscent of the private sector’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic through initiatives like CA-COVID.
“We intend to employ a similar strategy to engage the private sector in humanitarian responses and poverty alleviation programs. We’ve already begun discussions with UNICEF, who have pledged support exceeding $270 million, and numerous other partners expressing their willingness to participate,” the minister stated.
Dr Betta Edu a Edu also revealed plans to establish a humanitarian situation room in collaboration with UNICEF to monitor, prevent, mitigate, and reintegrate individuals affected by humanitarian crises back into society effectively. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to handling humanitarian issues with diligence and care.
stàndbynewsonline 